Tag: December Gold Cup

Racing Preview – Saturday 14th December

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

All of our selections ran well on Friday but only Oscar Whisky emerged as a winner. Full credit to Wonderful Charm for putting up a game effort trying to concede 8lbs. Both horses look to have a bright future over fences.

I must admit to being surprised by Monbeg Dude coming to beat Theatre Guide. I had mistakenly believed that he really needed soft ground to be at his best but clearly he can cope with anything in this grade. I don’t think that I will be rushing to back him at 20-1 for the Grand National though as he is a bit on the small side and could find it difficult to lay up on the first circuit.

Not that size is everything at Aintree as old Sunnyhillboy reminded us when winning the staying hurdle under AP McCoy. He was so unlucky to be pipped by Neptune Collonges a couple of years ago but was well beaten when departing at the last this time around.

There is a disappointing turnout for the supporting card at Cheltenham on Saturday with The New One having only Zarkandar as a realistic opponent in the International Hurdle and a miserable turnout of just four for the Relkeel Hurdle. I’d have to question the race planners on having Grade 2 two-mile and two and a half-mile hurdle races on the same card. You could easily merge the fields to make one decent race!

Johns Spirit and Colour Squadron were my choices for the December Gold Cup earlier in the week and I still cannot split them. I can’t help feeling that Easter Meteor is over-priced at 16-1 so am going to have a little each-way on him too.

There are more interesting betting races over at Doncaster and I’m going to have a flutter on Ted Spread at 12-1. He won the Chester Vase in 2010 before beating only one home in the Epsom Derby. Clearly he showed Paul Nicholls something at home as he was heavily backed for races like the County Hurdle and Imperial Cup but failed to deliver the goods.

He is now with Suzy Smith and this might be the time to catch him. It wouldn’t be the first time a horse has been transformed by a change of stables.

I also like the look of Bear’s Affair in the handicap chase for Nicky Henderson. The Lambourn maestro is sending a strong team up north including Triumph hope Royal Irish Hussar and I wouldn’t be surprised if he bagged a few winners. Bear’s Affair has come up against Le Bec and Wonderful Charm, arguably two of the best staying novices seen so far this season. He won at Kempton last time and is only up 4lbs for this.

*Ante-post Colour Squadron 6-1

*Ante-post Johns Spirit 13-2

(each-way) Easter Meteor at 16-1 BetBright

Ted Spread 12-1 Bet365

Bear’s Affair 4-1 William Hill

December Gold Cup Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Sire De Grugy and Unioniste kept out heads above water last weekend with impressive victories. The former is unfortunate to be racing in the same era as Sprinter Sacre but it was nice to get his chance of Grade 1 glory on Saturday. I was also impressed with Unioniste who confirmed himself as a stayer of some potential at Aintree.

Paul Nicholls had five big winners across the card and it will be interesting to see how he shuffles his chasing pack. I’d love to have seen Hennessy Gold Cup runner-up Rocky Creek go for the Welsh National but the trainer has indicated that the Lexus Chase is his Christmas target.

This weekend it is the The December Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Its official sponsored title is simply bizarre so I’m not even going to mention it! Anyway, the race looks set to revolve around the form of the Paddy Power Gold Cup over course and distance last month.

Johns Spirit came out on top on that occasion for Jonjo O’Neill, beating Colour Squadron by three-quarters of a length with Attadale fourth and Easter Meteor falling two out. The general consensus was that Colour Squadron would have won but for being hampered when Easter Meteor crashed out at the second last.   It is true that he had to do a pretty nimble side-step and made up a lot of ground from the last, but I’m not convinced that it is as simple as that.

Johns Spirit seems to travel easily in his races and then pull himself up in front. He did the same at the last meeting and he was in front a long way out in the Paddy Power.   I was impressed with Easter Meteor and he again ran well when chasing home Cantlow at Newbury last time. It’s impossible to say where he may have finished had he stood up at Cheltenham but the handicapper hasn’t exactly ignored him, putting him up 8lbs for two defeats.

The gamble of the race is Grandioso who caught the eye when third in Cantlow’s race. Nicholls has made no secret of the fact that a lot of his runners have needed their first outing and expects this one to improve considerably. That would certainly give him a chance but he doesn’t offer great value at 7-1 having been more than twice that at the start of the week.

I find it hard to look beyond the Paddy Power form and recommend splitting stakes between Johns Spirit and Colour Squadron.

Colour Squadron 6-1 Bet365

Johns Spirit 13-2 888Sport