The Cheltenham Festival is upon us, and of course everyone will be counting down the days to the showpiece event, the Gold Cup. Every owner, trainer and jockey have their sights set on winning the prestigious race, and it’s no surprise really given its magnitude and the whopping £263,766 winning prize pot.
However, for the last two years in a row now, Al Boum Photo has won the Gold Cup, giving the Irish the bragging rights in the Britain vs Ireland rivalry at the Cheltenham Festival, and unfortunately for the British, the Willie Mullins-trained horse is once again the favourite in the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting.
But, as always, it will be a testing field, and there will be plenty of British-trained horses out for glory. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at those from the mainland who are in with the best chances of winning the curtain dropper.
Champ – 5/1
Nicky Henderson-trained Santini was narrowly denied by the neck of Al Boum Photo last year, and there’s no doubt that the English trainer will be hoping for better luck this year with Champ as he seeks his third victory in the Gold Cup after wins with Bobs Worth and Long Run in 2011 and 2013 respectively. Champ, who is named after legendary jockey Sir AP McCoy, put on an amazing comeback to win the RSA Novices’ Chase at last year’s Festival and the punters will certainly be hoping for more of the same in the Gold Cup.
Royale Pagaille – 8/1
Royale Pagaille has found his form at the perfect time and as a result he is as short as 8/1 in the Gold Cup – Non Runner Money Back market to win the showpiece after once being as far out as 50/1. The Venetia Williams-trained horse won at Haydock and Kempton in December before a huge 16-length victory over Potters Legend in a Grade 2 Handicap Chase back at Haydock at the beginning of this year. Williams will be hoping to become the first female trainer to win the Gold Cup since Jessica Harrington’s victory with Sizing John, whilst famous owner Rich Ricci will be keeping his fingers crossed that Royale Pagaille ends his Gold Cup drought with his maiden title.
Frodon – 14/1
An emphatic victory in the Boxing Day King George VI Chase at Kempton has resulted in Frodon’s odds of winning the Gold Cup getting slashed drastically. The Paul Nicholls-trained horse set off in the Grade 1 race as a 20/1 outsider. However, jockey Bryony Frost defied the odds by guiding the nine-year-old to an historic two-length victory. Frodon is now just 14/1 to win the showpiece after once being as far out as 74/1.
Lostintranslation – 14/1
There’s been little to get excited about in regard to Lostintranslation’s recent performances. The Colin Tizzard-trained horse has pulled up in the last two King George VI Chases with two third-place finishes wedged in between, which includes placing in last year’s Gold Cup. It wasn’t a terrible run from the nine-year-old last year as he romped home in third just over a length behind Al Boum Photo and Santini, and maybe recent wind surgery could help him improve upon that this year.
Santini – 14/1
It was so close yet so far for Santini in last year’s Gold Cup. In fact, just extra yard of track may have turned the result on its head. However, it wasn’t to be, and it would take a special run from the nine-year-old to be in with a chance of winning again this year. Three more defeats have followed since the Gold Cup misery and finishing 10 lengths behind Frodon on Boxing Day and a huge 17 lengths behind Native River at Sandown more recently doesn’t exactly fill us with confidence.
Native River (14/1), Cryname (25/1), Imperial Aura (25/1), Master Tommytucker (40/1) and Vinndication (40/1) are all a bit further out in the betting market.