For many racing fans, the BetVictor Handicap Chase signifies the real start of the jumps season.
BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase History and Trends
Fortria, Gay Trip, Half Free, Bradbury Star and Cyfor Maltahave all been dual winners of a race that began life in 1960 as the Mackeson Gold Cup and has metamorphisised through sponsors Murphy’s, Thomas Pink and Paddy Power into it’s current incarnation.
It’s run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over 2m4f and is usually won by an up-and-coming chaser – no chaser aged older than nine has won it since 1975. There have only been three winners aged older than seven since the turn of the century.
Before Taquin De Seuil’s victory last year, only one winner in the previous nine years had carried more than 11st. Little Josh was a 20/1 chance when successful in 2010 but he’s the only winner in the last in the last 20 years to start at bigger odds than 16/1 – this is generally not a race for unfancied outsiders.
Nigel Twiston-Davies has trained two of the last nine winners and has two runners this year. Paul Nicholls had the winner in 2012 and 2014 and is also doubly represented.
Martin Pipe trained the winner on seven occasions and son Martin won it with Great Endeavour in 2011. He saddles Starchitect, who is available at 9/1 at ran well here and at Aintree in the spring. He made a winning return to action at Stratford and should run his race.
Guitar Pete gained a deserved victory at Wetherby earlier this month and the grey has rediscovered his best form so the 20/1 with sponsors BetVictor looks generous. Foxtail Hill (a best 10/1) beat Le Prezien (a 17/2 chance with 10bet) over 2m at Cheltenham last month but there is nothing between the pair on the revised terms.
Tully East is only a best 8/1 with BetVictor to give Ireland a first victory in the race since 2009 but the 25/1 available for PLAISIR D’AMOUR may be too big as he did well in his first season over fences and Venetia Williams’ stable is hitting form. Romain De Senam (a general 9/1) won at Chepstow last month and followed up at Stratford but a strongly-run race over a stiffer track could stretch his stamina. Kylemore Lough last ran in the Melling Chase at Aintree in April and will need to be at his very best to make a winning return to action off top weight – he is no value at around 6/1.
Double Treasure can be backed at 16/1 but that underestimates the progress that Jamie Snowden’s six-year-old has made over the last few months. He’s shot up the weights but handled these fences well enough when completing a four-timer last month and seems sure to give another good account.
BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase Latest Odds
Kylemore Lough 6/1, Tully East 8/1, Le Prezien 17/2, Romain De Senam and Starchitect 9/1, Foxtail Hill 10/1, Ballyalton 12/1, Double Treasure 16/1, Guitar Pete and Aqua Dude 20/1, Theinval, Viconte Du Noyer and Plaisir D’amour 25/1, Days Of Heaven, Splash of Ginge and Bentelimar 33/1, Mystifiable 40/1, Lake Takapuna 50/1
