The experienced trio of Imperial Commander, Denman and Kauto Star renew their rivalry for Gold Cup success once again on the Friday of the Cheltenham Festival, and it is reigning champion Imperial Commander who heads the betting at 11/4 with Victor Chandler. 2008 winner Denman and dual winner Kauto Star are joined by a young pretender in Long Run at the 6/1 mark for the feature race of the Festival.
Nigel Twiston-Davies' Imperial Commander is defending champion after defeating Denman last year, although has had little in the way of preparation this term. The 10-year-old didn't run in the King George VI Chase because of a cut leg but has impressed in gallops according to Twiston-Davies and did win his only outing in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. He held off the brave challenge of Tidal Bay at Haydock to win by a length and a quarter, although statistics are against another Gold Cup win as only two 10-year-olds have won the feature race of the Cheltenham Festival in the past twenty years.
Statistics don't favour Paul Nicholls' 11-year-olds Denman and Kauto Star either as the last 11-year-old to win the Gold Cup was Mandarin back in 1962. Denman is rated by many as having the better chance of the pair after finishing runner up by seven lengths in 2010 and VCBet price the 2008 winner at 6/1 in the betting. Like Imperial Commander, he has only had one run this season, when he came third to another Gold Cup contender in Diamond Harry in the Hennessy Gold Cup.
Two time winner Kauto Star is also 6/1 and there is a fear that time may be catching up on him after he came a hugely disappointing third to Long Run in the King George VI Chase in January after going off as ante-post favourite. Paul Nicholls' 11-year-old did win the JNWine.com Champion Chase from Sizing Europe earlier this season but memories of his horror fall at the Festival last year remain fresh, and it was the second time in his illustrious career that he has fallen at the famous racecourse.
Away from the experienced old guard, there is the young pretender to the crown in Long Run who is available at an industry best 6/1 in the betting with Victor Chandler.com after his hugely impressive showing in the King George. The 6-year-old romped home by 12 lengths from Riverside Theatre and could be a dangerous proposition this year. Nicky Henderson's horse has two from two at Kempton, although has a less impressive record at Cheltenham with no win from two outings - including a third place in last year's RSA Chase and a third in the PaddyPower Gold Cup Chase in November. He has tended to be solid rather than spectacular at the course, although it is worth noting that statistics are also against Long Run as the last time a 6-year-old won was back in 1963.
Elsewhere a couple of 8-year-olds also have hopes of breaking the Gold Cup monopoly of the 'big three' as Hennessy Gold Cup winner Diamond Harry is a 12/1 punt, although did pull up in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham last year. While Willie Mullins' Kempes has impressed in Ireland and can be backed at 14/1.
It looks to be a cracking renewal again this year and we fancy Long Run could push the more experienced champions all the way.
11/4 Imperial Commander
6/1 Long Run*
6/1 Denman
6/1 Kauto Star
12/1 Diamond Harry
14/1 Kempes
16/1 Midnight Chase
16/1 Pandorama
25/1 Tidal Bay
33/1 Neptune Collonges*
50/1 BAR
*Denotes industry best price. Odds supplied by VictorChandler.com, who provide odds for all 27 races at Cheltenham Festival.
Posted: Thursday, 3rd March 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: cheltenham gold cup, cheltenham festival, imperial commander, long run, victor chandler,
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