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| Cheltenham Gold Cup - Friday March 16th 2012 |
The Stars Line Up for Gold Cup Show Down
11/01/12
Great rivals Long Run and Kauto Star head
Coral's betting
for the Cheltenham Gold Cup at 5-2 and 4-1 respectively, following the latest entry stage for the jumping showpiece. Top novice Grand Crus is next at 9-1, ahead of Synchronised at 10-1.
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Both star names appeared among a total of 34 entries for the blue riband event on the final day of The Festival, with the score currently standing at 2-2, as Nicky Henderson's Long Run was successful in the King George and Cheltenham Gold Cup last season.
However, the Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star has already created history once by becoming the first horse to reclaim the Gold Cup and he saw off Long Run by eight lengths at Haydock and reclaimed his King George crown.
Henderson has also entered long-term absentee Burton Port and surprisingly Finian's Rainbow, while Nicholls could run What A Friend, who was fourth 12 months ago, Tidal Bay, Poquelin and The Minack.
David Pipe's novice Grands Crus is regarded by some as a potential fly in the ointment for the big two, as he managed to beat all bar the seemingly-unbeatable Big Buck's over hurdles last term and has taken to fences seamlessly, with a Grade One win already under his belt. Pipe may also run Junior, a Festival winner last term.
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Last year's Arkle winner Captain Chris ran a respectable race when third in the King George after an interrupted preparation and will aim to give Philip Hobbs a first win in the race.
Willie Mullins has entered Apt Approach, Quel Esprit and The Midnight Club while Magnanimity could run for Dessie Hughes.
The last Irish-trained winner of the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup was War Of Attrition in 2006 and there are eight contenders from Ireland in the 2012 race. War Of Attrition was trained by Mouse Morris and the Fethard handler could be represented this year by China Rock. The nine-year-old led for much of the race in last year’s Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup before being pulled up before the second last but is now on the comeback trail following stem cell treatment.
Morris revealed: “China Rock is running over hurdles at Punchestown on Saturday and we hope that he can head to Cheltenham once again as he was in the process of running a big race before breaking down in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup last year.
“He had stem cell treatment, like War Of Attrition received, afterwards and has been back in training quite a while now.
“The ground is important to him as he wants a decent surface. Obviously, every day is a bonus when a horse comes back from a tendon injury like his but he’s going well and the plan is to head to Cheltenham.”
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