Home / Horse Racing / Long Run And Kauto Star On Course For A Thrilling Battle

Long Run heads the betting and 34 entries for the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup

Defending champion Long Run heads the betting and 34 entries for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday 16th March 2012. The race is moving ever closer and last year's winner is an industry best priced 11/4 favourite with race sponsor Betfred, who go 'non runner no bet' on all contenders for the £500,000 blue riband race.

Nicky Henderson, the most successful current trainer at the Cheltenham Festival with 39 wins, saw his star romp to a seven length win from Denman last year, with Kauto Star four lengths further back. It is the dual with Kauto Star that is the big talking point of the race this year and Paul Nicholls' veteran has looked back to his very best.

Kauto Star had been written off after his Cheltenham defeat and his flop at Punchestown last year but Nicholls refused to retire his stable star and the 12-year-old has come back as good as ever. He has beaten Long Run twice already this season, first by eight lengths in the Betfair Chase and again when winning the King George VI Chase for a record fifth time. Long Run closed the gap to lose by a length and a quarter on Boxing Day but Kauto Star will still receive plenty of support at 4/1 in the latest betting for this year's Gold Cup as he bids to become only the third 12-year-old, and first since 1969, to win the Gold Cup.

Nicholls has four other entries for this year's race as he attempts to make history of his own by equalling Tom Dreaper's record of five Gold Cup wins.

Away from the big two, David Pipe's Grands Crus is available at 8/1 as he attempts to become the first novice to win since Captain Christy in 1974. The 7-year-old was exceptional over hurdles last year and has won all three starts over fences this season, including the Grade One Feltham Novices at Kempton. Pipe's hopeful also holds an entry for the RSA Chase but could be worth a look in the Gold Cup with Betfred's 'non runner no bet' offer.

Jonjo O'Neill's Synchronised is next best in the betting at 10/1 and the 9-year-old has shown excellent stamina on tough ground in the past before finally producing the goods on decent ground when winning the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown last time.

Elsewhere, Arkle winner Captain Chris could step up in trip after finishing third behind Long Run and Kauto Star in the King George, with Betfred.com pricing Philip Hobbs' hopeful 16/1.

Paul Webber's Time For Rupert has plenty to prove after disappointing when favourite for the RSA Chase last year, although he has been much improved this season in finishing second to Weird Al in the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase and beating Giant Bolster at Newbury last month.

Away from the British entries, there are eight Irish-trained hopefuls and Mouse Morris, the last Irish trainer to win the Gold Cup when he won the 2006 renewal with War Of Attrition, boasts the leading hope in China Rock. The 9-year-old led the race for much of last year before pulling up two out and he is 66/1 for this year's renewal after undergoing stem cell treatment.

Latest 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting

11/4 Long Run
4/1 Kauto Star
8/1 Grands Crus
10/1 Synchronised
16/1 Captain Chris
20/1 Time For Rupert
25/1 Weird Al
25/1 Jessies Dream
25/1 Diamond Harry
25/1 Quito De La Roque
25/1 Quel Espirit
33/1 Finian's Rainbow
33/1 Albertas Run
40/1 BAR

Odds supplied by Betfred.com bookmakers, who offer 'non runner no bet' for the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Posted: Thursday, 12th January 2012
Author: Chris James
Tags: cheltenham gold cup, long run, kauto star, grands crus, betfred,

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