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Imperial Commander heads betting as 2011 Gold Cup entries announced

34 horses were entered into the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Wednesday, with three former winners amongst the contingent and last year's winner Imperial Commander the 9/2 ante-post favourite for a repeat with bookmaker Ladbrokes. Nigel Twiston-Davies trains the ten year old Imperial Commander, who goes straight to Cheltenham with just the one run under his belt this season, winning the Betfair Chase back in November. Five of his six chase wins have come at Cheltenham and he looks the horse to beat again in March.

Trainer Paul Nicholls has entered seven horses in the Gold Cup, but it's unlikely all of them will run. The shortest priced of his runners is the two time Gold Cup winner Kauto Star, who goes for a record fifth consecutive win in the King George VI Chase this weekend at Kempton. The eleven year old went off the 8/11 odds on favourite in last year's Gold Cup but was a faller. Ladbrokes make Kauot their 5/1 second favourite, although that price will be slashed should he win at Kempton on Saturday.

Also from the Nicholls camp is the mecurial Denman, priced at 7/1 third favourite with the bookmakers. Winner of this race back in 2008, amazingly the eleven year old has won just one race since, in the 2009 Hennessy Gold Cup lumping around top weight. Denman finished second in this race last year behind Imperial Commander and was an impressive third place in this season's Hennessy, once again giving weight away all round. Nicholls other entries include Madarin Chase winner Pride Of Dulcote, mudlark The Nightingale, the Sir Alex Ferguson owned What A Friend, Neptune Collnge and Noland.

Fourth in the betting for the Gold Cup is Hennessy winner Diamond Harry, who will go straight to the race following his fine display at Newbury in November. The eight year old is only a second season chaser and pulled up in last season's RSA Chase. He isn't without his backers though and at odds of 10/1 is the shortest price of the horse who have not previously won a Gold Cup.

Amongst the Irish entries is Pandorama who would have the best chance of those coming across the Irish Sea if the betting was anything to go by. The eight year old was a smart novice but missed last year's festival due to injury. An impressive win in the Lexus Chase over Christmas saw Noel Meade's chaser backed in to 12/1 with Ladbrokes for the Gold Cup. Other Irish entries include the Willie Mullins trained former RSA Chase winner Cooldine, who is struggling to re-discover that kind of form, as well as Sizing Europe and Joncol.

2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup Entries

Albertas Run, Barker, Carronhills, Carruthers, Chief Dan George, China Rock, Cooldine, Denman, Diamond Harry, Forpadydeplasterer, Glencove Marina, Great Endeavour, Imperial Commander, Joncol, Kauto Star, Kempes, Long Run, Midnight Chase, Mon Mome, Money Trix, Neptune Collonges, Noland, Pandorama, Planet Of Sound, Pride Of Dulcote, Punchestowns, Sizing Europe, Synchronised, The Listener, The Nightingale, Tidal Bay, Time For Rupert, Weirld Al, What A Friend.

Latest 2011 Gold Cup Betting

9/2 Imperial Commander*
5/1 Kauto Star*
7/1 Denman
10/1 Diamond Harry
12/1 Pandorama
14/1 Midnight Chase
16/1 Pride Of Dulcote
20/1 Long Run
20/1 Punchestowns
25/1 BAR

* Denotes best industry price. Odds supplied by Ladbrokes.com.

Posted: Thursday, 13th January 2011
Author: Russell Lloyd
Tags: cheltenham gold cup, entries, imperial commander, kauto star, ladbrokes,

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