3m2½f (3m2f70y) (New) Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+)
Last year’s Gold Cup saw A Plus Tard and Minella Indo surpass the form of dual winner Al Boum Photo, and to me that is the standard everything else have to reach. For me, only one horse has reached that level this season and it’s GALVIN, who appeared to outstay A Plus Tard at Christmas to confirm his Grade 1 class. He’s already proven around Cheltenham having won last year’s National Hunt Chase, and has huge reserves of stamina. He ticks the box of not having run in the race before, but softer ground has always been his nemesis and that is the primary concern. However, there’s a fresh strip of ground open for the Gold Cup – the first chase on the card – and the ground will be drying out by the minute. He’s 4/1, whereas Minella Indo has been disappointing this season and a bet on A Plus Tard would be hard to justify at nearly half the price. My heart says A Plus Tard, but my head says Galvin.
2pts win Galvin @4/1, 15:30 Cheltenham, Friday
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