The BetVictor Gold Cup is, for many, the race that means that the National Hunt season is properly under way.
Run on the Old Course over 2m4f and 44 yards (don’t underestimate the importance of those last few yards) and 16 fences, the BetVictor Gold Cup is the feature contest at the three-day Cheltenham Open Meeting, held each year in the middle of November.
Horse Racing Betting at BetVictor
First run in 1960, the Grade 3 handicap chase was originally sponsored by brewers Mackeson and known as the Mackeson Gold Cup until 1995 but has had various sponsors and several title changes since then.
The Pipe stable are the leading yard with nine wins in the race, with Celestial Gold, Our Vic and Great Endeavour, who won the contest in 2011, their most-recent winners. In 2017, the race was won by the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Splash Of Ginge, a victory which gave the yard their third success in the race since 2008 and their four overall.
BetVictor Gold Cup Recent Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Age | Weight | Odds | Official Rating | |
| 2007 | L’Antartique | Graham Lee | Ferdy Murphy | 7 | 10-13 | 13/2 | 143 | |
| 2008 | Imperial Commander | Paddy Brennan | Nigel Twiston-Davies | 7 | 10-7 | 13/2 | 139 | |
| 2009 | Tranquil Sea | Andrew McNamara | E J O’Grady | 7 | 10-13 | 11/2 | 148 | |
| 2010 | Little Josh | Sam Twiston-Davies | Nigel Twiston-Davies | 8 | 10-5 | 20/1 | 146 | |
| 2011 | Great Endeavour | Timmy Murphy | David Pipe | 7 | 10-3 | 8/1 | 147 | |
| 2012 | Al Ferof | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | 7 | 11-8 | 8/1 | 160 | |
| 2013 | Johns Spirit | Richie McLernon | Jonjo O’Neill | 6 | 10-2 | 7/1 | 139 | |
| 2014 | Caid Du Berlais | Sam Twiston-Davies | Paul Nicholls | 5 | 10-13 | 10/1 | 143 | |
| 2015 | Annacotty | Ian Popham | Alan King | 7 | 11-0 | 12/1 | 147 | |
| 2016 | Taquin Du Seuil | Aidan Coleman | Jonjo O’Neill | 9 | 11-11 | 8/1 | 156 | |
| 2017 | Splash Of Ginge | Tom Bellamy | Nigel Twiston-Davies | 9 | 10-6 | 25/1 | 134 | |
| 2018 | Baron Alco | Jamie Moore | Gary Moore | 7 | 10-11 | 8/1 | 146 | |
BetVictor Gold Cup Recent Trends
- All but one of the last 12 winners had run at least twice previously at Cheltenham.
- All but one of the last 12 winners had won at least twice over fences.
- All but one of the last 12 winners had an official rating of 139 of higher.
- Previous winners are usually proven over the distance.
- Only one of the last 12 winners has started favourite but five of the last 12 winners were among the first three in the betting.
COUNT MERIBEL ticks all the boxes in the BetVictor Gold Cup.
Successful at the Open meeting at Cheltenham 12 months ago following a prep race at Carlisle, the seven-year-old has trod the same path this season. He was no match for the classy Lostintranslation at the Cumbrian track last month but did finish nine lengths ahead of a decent chaser who is currently rated 156. Count Meribel runs in only his second handicap over fences off a mark of 146 and it’s an added bonus that he hails from the stable of Nigel Twiston-Davies, who is aiming to saddle the winner of this race for the fifth time in 11 years. Going and distance are ideal.
SIRUH DU LAC (a general 11/2) racked up four victories last season and was unbeaten. Two of those wins came in Grade 3 races in Cheltenham and he beat Spiritofthegames by three lengths at the Festival in March. Eamon An Cnoic finished fourth in that race but Nick Williams’ runner is now 9lb higher.
GUITAR PETE is a best 16/1 with the race sponsors but shouldn’t be underestimated. Nicky Richards’ grey was a staying-on third last year and looked as good as ever at Wetherby at the start of the month. He has each-way claims again but HAPPY DIVA had an unlucky run 12 months ago (going well when brought down) and is weighted to reverse Wetherby form with Guitar Pete so there is likely to be plenty of interest in the 20/1 quote from Boylesports.
SLATE HOUSE (a general 11/2) still has untapped potential but also something to prove in top company. Highway One O One has a decent chance on the form book and is available at 16/1 but will probably find at least one too good again, though should lack nothing in fitness.
BetVictor Gold Cup Current Best Odds
Slate House and Siruh Du Lac 11/2, Spiritofthegames 7/1, Us And Them and Count Meribel 10/1, Saint Calvados 12/1, Guitar Pete and Highway One O One 16/1, Springtown Lake 18/1, Happy Diva and Magic Saint 20/1, Belami Des Pictons 22/1, Eamon An Cnoic and Brelan D’as 25/1, Royal Village 33/1, Splash of Ginge 40/1, Mercian Prince, Warthog , Dell Oro and Demi Sang 50/1
(Odds correct at 1.15pm November 14)
