Betting Update; Cheltenham Gold Cup with the bookmakers making Denman their 7/4 favourite

Added: (Wed Dec 31 2008)

Pressbox (Press Release) - So much good racing and so many future clues over the Christmas period, but there can only be one place to start – Kauto Star. Having blotted his copybook at Haydock, Paul Nicholls former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner put himself back on cue to regain his crown from stablemate Denman with an exhilarating display in the King George at Kempton. Given the race’s excellent record as a Gold Cup guide – Kauto Star himself is one of three winners to achieve the double in the past six years, and with there being no guarantee that Denman will return in the same form as last year, quotes of around 3/1 certainly make plenty of appeal, especially as he is highly unlikely to race again until the big day.

The other major chase of the holiday period, the Lexus at Leopardstown, has also proved a useful future guide in recent seasons with four of the last six winners claiming a Gold Cup, be that at Cheltenham or in the Irish Hennessy. However while Exotic Dancer suggested he could be back to near his best, it’s Neptune Collonges who remains of most interest. Likely to have taken all the beating had he not departed two out, he too remains a live Gold Cup candidate and it was a surprise to see his odds relaxed.

Willie Mullins has a tight grip on the novice hurdle division with Hurricane Fly sitting proudly at the top of the tree after another excellent run to claim the ‘Future Champions’ at Leopardstown, following on from his win in the Royal Bond last month. He’ll be a good thing if reappearing in the Deloitte over 2 1/4m in early February, a race in which the double has been competed five times in the past twelve seasons, and he may even be up to emulating Istabraq, the last to achieve success at the Festival. Whether that’s in the Supreme Novices or Ballymore Properties Hurdle however remains to be seen.

Alan King’s Walkon paid a huge compliment to his Newbury conqueror Zaynar, whose Triumph Hurdle odds have been clipped further, after an easy win in the Finale at Chepstow. It’s worth remembering he was giving 7lb to Nicky Henderson’s highly touted inmate that day and must hold his own claims in the Festival’s major juvenile contest and before that in the Finesse Hurdle at Cheltenham in four weeks time – a race in which three Finale winners have followed up since 1999. The Grade One Juvenile at Leopardstown, won by Lethal Weapon to retain his unbeaten hurdles record, has also been a good guide to the Triumph, and at double figure odds the winner would be one to consider each-way, although connections are undecided if it will be his target.

While Master Minded looks to have the Champion Chase at his mercy, Big Zeb put himself forward as one for each-way backers after overcoming useful yardstick Watson Lake in the Dial A Bet Chase at Leopardstown. Colm Murphy’s runner will improve further for his first start in eight months, and must be followed until beaten.


Recommended Bets - Kauto Star 3pts win Gold Cup
Recommended Bets - Neptune Collonges 1 pt e/w Gold Cup
Recommended Bets - Walkon 2 pts win Triumph
Recommended Bets - Lethal Weapon 1 pt e/w Triumph
Recommended Bets - Big Zeb 1 pt e/w Champion Chase

• All prices correct at time of writing.

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