Friday 13th March

3:30 Gold Cup

DELTA WORK 5/1 generally – 1 POINT WIN

CLAN DES OBEAUX 8/1 generally – 1 POINT WIN

What a race we have in store and I think the race has the potential to be one of the greats. Al Boum Photo was the winner of this race last year and although he looks solid, I do think this race is much stronger this year. Santini I have down as a Grand National horse and he would not want the ground drying out. It should be good to soft ground on Friday and his best chance would be on heavy ground as he is a dour stayer. I fancy our horses to have a better kick than him and for those reasons, that is why I am against. I really liked Lostintranslation at the start of the year but I have to question how ideal it is coming into a Gold Cup, on the back of being pulled up.

DELTA WORK has done nothing wrong this season apart from his first start of the season when he was 4th at Down Royal. He scoped badly after that race and had a small setback. He then went to Leopardstown for the Savills Chase and beat Monalee by a head. He was apparently only 80% fit that day so Gordon Elliott was very pleased. He then went back to the same course and won the Irish Gold Cup by 2 lengths, jumping impressively throughout and he just looks the complete Gold Cup horse. He also has form at Cheltenham after winning the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle as a 5 year old and 3rd in last year’s RSA. He made a few mistakes in last year’s RSA but was only beaten 2 lengths, in fact if it was over a further 2f, like the gold cup trip, he would have caught both Santini and Topofthegame. This race is made for him and I think it will take a good one to beat him.

That good one could possibly be…….

CLAN DES OBEAUX who I think is a bigger and stronger horse than ever. I believe he was good last season when winning the King George which was followed by a win at Ascot, both impressively. I really think Paul Nicholls may have overcooked him last year and peaked him too soon, by the time the Gold Cup came, he was over the top. They have done in differently this season and after winning the King George they have come straight to the Gold Cup and that is what I think will be the difference this year. He was so impressive in the King George and not sure how he can be 8/1 on the back of his demolition job. The drying ground is going to be help, as is the slower pace, with no Native River in this year’s race.