3m2½f (3m2f70y) (New) Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+)
Gaelic Warrior just about deserves favouritism as he’s beaten top horses over a multitude of trips through his career. There are two versions of this horse, and his chance depends on which one turns up. The keen and aggressive version is my favourite as he’s a stayer that can pull others out of their comfort zone, but my concern is we won’t see that version as Paul Townend – who had previously committed to non-runner Galopin Des Champs – will do everything he can to get him settled. He has a tendency to jump right too and, regardless of what connections think, he isn’t certain to stay because he hasn’t proven it yet. Marginal preference is for JANGO BAIE who I’d be much more confident – without being certain – of staying and he looks ideally suited to the New Course. There’s not been a single race in his career he hasn’t been staying on and he’s devoured the Cheltenham hill every time he’s met it. His Cheltenham form is excellent and he is the youngest in the field at 7yo so has the most upsides, whilst his ratings already entitle him to be good enough. It was clear in the King George that the sharper Kempton – a track that should have played to all Gaelic Warrior, The Jukebox Man and Banbridge’s strengths – wasn’t ideal and he was bang there in the bunch finish. I have little against The Jukebox Man except his price and the nagging doubt he didn’t get up the hill as a young horse in the Bartlett. That’s easily forgivable and he’s been foot perfect as a chaser yet his best runs are either at Kempton or over intermediate trips and he has more to prove than others. My second play is last year’s out of sorts winner INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN who relished the good ground that time, and I suspect that’s the key to his jumping just like it was ex-winner Don Cossack. His Cheltenham Festival form is 2/2 and the market and vibes from connections are warm considering his nightmare preparation. It’s a shot in the dark but JP McManus kept his best horse, Fact To File, away from this race and we already know he has the prerequisite class to win this well.
1pt win Jango Baie @5/1, 1pt win Inothewayurthinkin @9/1, 4:00 Cheltenham, Friday
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