GC's Festival in a Flash: Gold Cup day

Cunningham's Fez / Graham Cunningham / 18 March 2010 / Leave a comment

Gold Cup day is set to be something special

Big Buck's stemmed the bleeding for punters at Cheltenham on day three and Ballabriggs rounded off the day with a thriling second success of the week for Donald McCain. However, the entire Festival reaches a whole new level on Friday. It's the third leg of the Kauto Star versus Denman in a spellbinding Gold Cup. And Racing UK analyst Graham Cunningham puts the battle of the giants under the microscope in part four of his Festival In A Flash series.

"It's rare a Festival fall can be viewed as a blessing in disguise, but that could be the case for fellow Albert Bartlett candidate Quel Esprit. This striking grey departed at the second in Wednesday's Neptune but this longer trip looks a big plus and the fact that Ruby rides him ahead of two other Mullins contenders has to be noteworthy. "

1: If nothing else, this year's Cheltenham has provided a grim reminder of how tough the Festival handicaps are. I managed to crack one on Thursday, but the championship races remain the safest port of call and that's where I plan to specialise for Friday's card.


2: Some people simply can't have Alaivan in the Triumph Hurdle at 13:30, but they could be cruising for a bruising. Granted, Edward O'Grady's gelding was outpaced by Carlito Brigante at Leopardstown over Christmas, but he impressed as a very smart juvenile indeed by bolting up either side of defeat and I simply don't go along with those who feel he is purely a soft ground grinder with limited scope for improvement.


3: Any unbeaten horse representing Nicholls and Walsh at the Fez is bound to corner a fair chunk of the market, but is Advisor really good enough to win a Triumph? Perhaps he is, and it isn't his fault that his rivals at Newbury and Ascot weren't good enough to stretch him fully, but his form as it stands leaves him with plenty of improvement to make to land this and with just the three places on offer he looks vulnerable.


4: The Albert Bartlett Hurdle at 14:40 throws up the usual riddle of how to choose between British and Irish novices who have yet to show the full extent of their ability. Tell Massini and Restless Harry rate highly among the British posse on form, but I suspect the former is a better bet than the latter. Restless Harry is a hungry galloper from the front, but his rise to prominence has come on deep ground and I suspect he might be found out on this less demanding surface.


5: By contrast, Tell Massini should handle the conditions more than adequately. He's three from three since joining Tom George and the way he powered clear of Wednesday's Neptune Hurdle runner-up Reve De Sivola here before Christmas marks him out as a prime contender. His free flowing style gives him clear potential as a back-to-lay vehicle and the reports from the George camp suggest that he could emerge from his winter break stronger than ever.


6: It's rare a Festival fall can be viewed as a blessing in disguise, but that could be the case for fellow Albert Bartlett candidate Quel Esprit. This striking grey departed at the second in Wednesday's Neptune but this longer trip looks a big plus and the fact that Ruby rides him ahead of two other Mullins contenders has to be noteworthy. "I think a good bit of this fellow," says the trainer. And so do I. He's a significant player if none the worse for that Neptune tumble.


7: The Gold Cup needs no financial interest to hold a jumping fan spellbound. But best to have one, just in case. It's tough to argue that the market for Kauto and Denman isn't on the mark, but there is room for an interloper to have a say and the memory of how Cooldine pulverised his RSA Chase rivals last year remains vivid. It's a hunch as much as anything, but I suspect Cooldine is ready to peak after a troubled start to the season and he's one to keep a close eye on, especially in the place market and the betting without the big two lists.

Tags: Advisor, Alaivan, Albert Bartlett Hurdle, Cooldine, Gold Cup, Quel Esprit, Tell Massini, Triumph Hurdle