Another fascinating Gold Cup in prospect

Fri, Mar 13, 2009

THE Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday afternoon is one of the most fascinating for years.

There are doubts about each of the principal contenders, and it could turn into a very open race.

It's fully 20 years since the most famous Gold Cup of all - Desert Orchid's great triumph in some of the most testing racing conditions imaginable. Rain has eased the going this year, but it won't be as heavy as it was back in 1989.

Last year's winner Denman has been on the drift in the betting market; so too has the 2007 hero Kauto Star who bids to regain his crown.

Last year's third-placed horse - also from Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls's all-conquering training yard - is Neptune Collonges.

And he is my tip for the race!

Although he fell in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas, he went back to Ireland to win the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup last month.

Owner John Hales watched in agony as the apple of his eye One Man twice failed to get up the final Cheltenham hill in both 1996 and 1997.

I think Neptune can give him his first Gold Cup victory in his yellow and red colours. All the horse must do is win at Prestbury Park for the first time in his career.

This afternoon (THURS), I fancy Mighty Man in the World Hurdle.

Come the last race of the four-day Cheltenham Festival, if you're still looking for a way to win money or reduce your losses, then you could do worse than back Herefordshire-trained horse Lorient Express in the Grand Annual Chase.

The ten-year-old has won on his last three outings and now goes for a four timer on the greatest stage of them all.

Trainer Venetia Williams hinted at the weekend that she thought he might be well handicapped. No better recommendation than that.

The next racing at Hereford Racecourse is on Monday 16 March when we have a couple of decent steeplechases. The £15,000 digibet.co.uk Handicap Chase is a real test of stamina over just one furlong short of four miles, while the £12,000 Green Farm Novices' Chase is raced over the minimum trip.

Chris Nenadich, of Lakes Farm, will be parading his stallion Fantastic Spain an hour before the first race.

*The first race time on Monday 16 March is at 2.10pm. The finale - a bumper - is at 4.40pm. Gates open at 12.10pm. Grandstand admission is £14. Accompanied children aged under 16 enter free of charge. For more information telephone the racecourse on 01432 273560.

Author:  Katie Stephens

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