Cheltenham Gold Cup 2019 Preview – Friday, March 15th, 2019
This is the big one. The blue riband race of the Cheltenham Festival. This year’s renewal of the Cheltenham Gold Cup looks supremely competitive. There are some wonderful challengers taking on the race this season including the reigning champion Native River.
He is back for another assault on the title and goes as one of three 4/1 joint-favourites* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 13th, 2019 at 3:51 pm).
Cheltenham Gold Cup 2019 Winner Odds*
Presenting Percy 4/1
Clan Des Obeaux 4/1
Native River 4/1
Bellshill 8/1
Kemboy 10/1
Thistlecrack 12/1
Al Boum Photo 14/1
Might Bite 14/1
Anibale Fly 16/1
Elegant Escape 20/1
Bristol De Mai 20/1
Shattered Love 25/1
Invitation Only 28/1
Definitely Red 40/1
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 13th, 2019 at 3:51 pm)
Can Native River defend?
Native River held off the challenges last year to claim the big prize over soft going. He was just spectacular in his run last year in this one and if he puts in a repeat performance he is going to be tough to beat. But this season hasn’t quite seem him hit his heights yet. He did take a third at the King George but was more than 13 lengths back of winner Clan Des Obeaux on the day. That was his second run of the season.
His first was at the Betfair Chase when he took second place. Given that was his first outing he did look a little bit rusty, but still went well to be fair, finishing behind Bristol De Mai. The going on the day at the Betfair was probably too quick for him here. Everything about the Cheltenham track just seems to be right in his wheelhouse. The fact that he is backed so well in the odds say a lot about him.
Presenting Percy to rise to the top?
Presenting Percy is one of the big darlings of racing at the moment. He has been building and building towards this shot at the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The 8-year-old looks primed to do more than just show up too. He won the Pertemps here back in 2018 and then stepped it up to the fences in the RSA Chase the following season when he took down Monalee. He did so by a big seven lengths as well and delivered the goods as the favourite. Now comes the biggest race of his career. He should be well in the mix in such big company.
Might Bite searches for form
Might Bite was the runner up last year. He just couldn’t quite deliver enough staying power at the end against Native River, finishing four lengths back. Despite a follow-up win at Aintree, it is a little surprising that he hasn’t made more of his career at Cheltenham really. His form this season will be a little bit of a concern for his supporters as well.
He was out at the King George and finished well down the field. That was after finishing dead last in the Betfair Chase. So frankly the season has been a bust and he had to go under for a wind operation. Will that have fixed all his problems? Can he pull everything back together to get back on top of his game and throw down some challenge?
Kemboy’s each way appeal
Kemboy lines up as one of the interesting runners behind the leading pack. The seven-year-old has delivered wins in five of his eight career chases. He has course experience after a fourth last year at the JLT twelve months ago. That really was the catalyst for bigger things and he has been getting better and better. His rating has jumped 20 points since his outing at the Cheltenham Festival last year and looks a good 10/1 option* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 13th, 2019 at 3:51 pm).
Leading English challenger
Clan Des Obeaux is the leading English challenger here after bursting on the scene and raising his credentials with a tremendous win at the King George from a 12/1 mark. That was some run to beat out veteran Thistlecrack. That was a tremendously impressive run from him and he followed it up with a spectacular run at Ascot this season as well. He has really put everything together and arrives at Prestbury Park in red-hot, tip-top shape.
Prediction
A great field and this is wide open. Will, the potential of Presenting Percy get the job done, or will Native River relive his success of twelve months ago? Things are so tight between those front runners.
Because of the opposition that Clan Des Obeaux has seen off this season, he makes a wonderful option for this one. He looks absolutely nailed on prime for something special here for Paul Nicholls. He gets the nod from us for the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2019 betting because of some spectacular jumping form this season.
As for our each way option we can’t look past Kemboy at 10/1* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 13th, 2019 at 3:51 pm) who has just come on leaps and bounds and just doesn’t look like slowing up.
