Native River and Cue Card fancied for Colin Tizzard 1-2 in Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup
Friday 17 March 2017 15:15, UK
Even the absence of possible favourite Thistlecrack cannot take away from a wide-open Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.
A deep field will head to the start for the three-and-a-quarter mile test, won last year by Don Cossack, who has sadly been retired from racing because of injury.
He could well have been tested by Cue Card 12 months ago but for a late fall while still going strongly, and Colin Tizzard's favourite is back for more...but could it be a stable companion who denies him this time?
Read on for our guide to the 14-runner Gold Cup field...
BRISTOL DE MAI - Form: 2-2213
Jockey: Daryl Jacob
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
Ran away with the Peter Marsh Chase in January but this race is a big step up from a Haydock handicap. Did win a Grade 1 as a novice in 2016 but has plenty to find with Native River on their most recent run at Newbury. Rating: 2/10
CHAMPAGNE WEST - Form: FP-311
Jockey: David Mullins
Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
Has bounced back to form in his last two runs, albeit in lower grade, and was an impressive winner of the Thyestes Chase last time out. That form gives him an outside squeak but it is somewhat disconcerting that his last two visits to Cheltenham saw him pulled up, one of those after jumping appallingly. Rating: 4/10
CUE CARD - Form: -43121
Jockey: Paddy Brennan
Trainer: Colin Tizzard
A Gold Cup win for the 11-year-old would surely be this year's Sprinter Sacre moment. Might have ended up running in the Ryanair if Thistlecrack had not been injured but Cue Card bounced back to win at Ascot after being beaten by his stablemate in the King George on Boxing Day. Comes in with a clear chance and there would be no more popular winner. Rating: 9/10
DJAKADAM - Form: 23-213
Jockey: Ruby Walsh
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Third time lucky for the Mullins raider? Djakadam has finished second to Coneygree and Don Cossack in the last two editions of this race but this year's field looks a little tougher and he has to bounce back from a surprising December defeat by Outlander. Rating: 7/10
EMPIRE OF DIRT - Form: P11-12
Non-runner
IRISH CAVALIER - Form: 151P35
Jockey: Paul Townend
Trainer: Rebecca Curtis
Beaten by just over 20 lengths in last year's Gold Cup and would appear not to have improved since. Did beat Cue Card at Wetherby on the latter's seasonal debut back in October but has been soundly beaten by that rival twice since and would be a shock winner. Rating: 3/10
MINELLA ROCCO - Form: 21-3FU
Jockey: Noel Fehily
Trainer: Jonjo O'Neill
Won the four-miler at the Cheltenham Festival last year when Native River finished second. Now both horses clash in chasing's blue riband race, but Native River appears to have improved more since then and is more likely to be suited by the shorter trip. Not without an each-way chance though. Rating: 7/10
MORE OF THAT - Form: 3-P36U
Jockey: Aidan Coleman
Trainer: Jonjo O'Neill
Generally regressive form over fences this season and has a lot of ground to make up on Outlander on Leopardstown running. But he was at least running a better race last time out at the same venue until coming a cropper at the last fence. Rating: 4/10
NATIVE RIVER - Form: 1-2111
Jockey: Richard Johnson
Trainer: Colin Tizzard
Has picked up the Hennessy Gold Cup, Welsh National and Denman Chase this season and also won a Grade 1 at Aintree after his Cheltenham defeat at the hands of Minella Rocco last March. Really flashy jumper and sure to be suited by this test. Could it come down to him and stablemate Cue Card? Rating: 10/10
OUTLANDER - Form: -22F21
Jockey: Bryan Cooper
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Stayed on well to beat Don Poli and win the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas but that was his first win at three miles and he has never won over further. He'll most likely be held up well off the pace but you would have a slight worry whether his stamina will hold out. If it does, he's a big threat. Rating: 8/10
SAPHIR DU RHEU - Form: 5-3F21
Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Has never truly convinced as a chaser but did manage his first win since 2015 when taking a Kelso race at odds of 1/7 last time out. Would need to improve a great deal on that performance to stand a chance here and his jumping will have to be slicker than he has shown at times. Rating: 2/10
SIZING JOHN - Form: 3-3211
Jockey: Robbie Power
Trainer: Jessica Harrington
Stepped up to three miles for the first time on his most recent run, which ended in a narrow Irish Gold Cup win over Empire Of Dirt. He had spent much of the year before that chasing home Douvan over two miles and there have to be questions whether he will have the stamina for an even longer trip this time. Rating: 5/10
SMAD PLACE - Form: 16-473
Jockey: Wayne Hutchinson
Trainer: Alan King
Hasn't impressed in his three runs this season, dropping out tamely last time in a race won by the ill-fated Many Clouds over this kind of distance. Was a well-beaten sixth in last year's Gold Cup and hard to see him improving very much at the age of 10. Rating: 1/10
TEA FOR TWO - Form: 3-5241
Jockey: Lizzie Kelly
Trainer: Nick Williams
Ended 15-month wait for a win last time out in February when easing clear to win at Exeter, but that was an egg-and-spoon race in comparison to this. Did run well in the King George behind Thistlecrack and Cue Card though, and would be a great story for his young jockey Lizzie Kelly to win this prestigious race. Rating: 5/10
VERDICT:
For a long time there was talk of a Colin Tizzard 1-2-3 in the Gold Cup. The sad absence of Thistlecrack takes that chance away, but it would be no surprise to see him bring home the first two. The sentimentalists will surely plump for Cue Card, so unlucky when coming down in this race 12 months ago, but he could be outdone by stablemate NATIVE RIVER, who has improved in leaps and bounds since his second over four miles here in 2016. Outlander could fill the frame for the in-form Gordon Elliott yard and look out for a decent run from Minella Rocco, who beat Native River in that four-miler. He might just want a little further than this.
