Friday sees the latest renewal of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the jewel in the crown of chasing. It is one of the most famous races in the world and one that every trainer, jockey and owner dreams of winning. The same can be said of many a punter. The race itself goes over 3 miles and two and a half furlongs and therefore not only is it a test of jumping ability, it all about endurance and stamina as well.
Heading up the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2016 betting market is Don Cossack who has a great record in Grade 1 races over the fences. Gordon Elliott’s charge was won 11 of 18 starts over the fences including the Punchestown Gold Cup last year. He has been storming along in Grade 1 races over the last year having beaten the likes of Cue Card, Djakadam and Rocky Creek. He did take a tumble in the King George VI Chase over Kempton, but a testament to how good he is, he got back up just a couple of weeks later and posted a Grade 2 in in Ireland.
So his routine didn’t look too upset by that fall at Kempton last December and he probably would have gotten the better of Cue Card again had he stayed afloat. He has the staying power to go the distance but his record at Cheltenham isn’t a special one He fell in the RSA Chase in his first appearance and then he didn’t have the speed to put the win on the board in the Ryanair last year, but it is his extended staying power which will see him more suited to the enduring Cheltenham Gold Cup where he is a price of 3/1.
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So it is a healthy competitive market this year for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, that’s for sure, because you have Djakadam at 7/2, then Cue Card and Don Poli at 4/1 each. Djakadam landed a second place finish for Willie Mullins at least year’s Gold Cup, but if history tells us anything about the Gold Cup, it is avoid those who placed in the race the previous year. He doesn’t have a record to stack up against that of Don Cossack having only four wins from 9 outings over the fences and not having beaten anyone of any real consequence. Also, his track record at Cheltenham, where he has fallen in two of this three previous appearances, doesn’t exactly scream of him being bankable.
Cue Card looks back on top of his game after winning the King George, the Charlie Hall and the Betfair Chase. That’s the kind of form that you want to see from a charge heading into the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He should be well in the mix to place on Friday and he likes to get himself out to the front and avoid trouble. Does he have the stamina though to hold out in the end to get across the line first? That’s the biggest question mark about him. Colin Tizzard has done a great job of getting him back to near his best after his health problems, but has he done too much this season and already peaked?
So with a few question marks floating around of the front runners in the market, it leaves Don Poli with big appeal. The biggest asset that he would have to winning this is the participation of Cue Card. If Cue Card does get out in front like he enjoys doing and picks up the pace of the race, that will suit Don Poli to a tee. Don Poli won last season’s RSA Chase and has won all but one of his goes over the fences and was a notable winner in the Lexus Chase at Leapordstown. He may not have looked all that impressive as a well rounded package this season and while he does have the pace in him, he can look a little lazy and not call on all of it. But it’s there, so if it is a quick race, he can hang and he certainly has stamina in abundance, having has won twice before up the Cheltenham hill.
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The Cheltenham Gold Cup 2016 is a pretty deep field because you can’t totally dismisses the chances of Smad Place and Road To Riches. Smad Place certainly has the pace and may well push Cue Card for the setting of the pace in the race, but ultimately he may not have the required stamina to hang in there to the finish. Road To Riches was impressive in last season’s Gold Cup and if he can replicate that form (something he hasn’t done this season) then he could get back in the mix for a place finish.
Cheltenham Gold Cup 2016 Odds
Don Cossack 3/1, Djakadam 7/2, Cue Card 4/1, Don Poli 9/2, Smad Place 10/1, Road To Riches, Carlingford Lough 25/1, bar 66/1
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