The 45 entries were announced yesterday for the BetVictor Gold Cup to be run at Cheltenham on Saturday 18th November. The market is headed by 10/1 joint favourites Romain de Senam and Kylemore Lough although I wouldn’t want to support the former until I had seen his revised weight which will be published next Wednesday.
BetVictor Gold cup – EW 4 places prices from BetVictor
Kylemore Lough 10/1
Romain De Senam 10/1
Cloudy Dream 14/1
A Toi Phil 14/1
Le Prezien 14/1
16s Bar
A terrific card at Sedgefield this afternoon with the feature event the 30k Durham National. Audacious Plan was a fluent winner over timber last time and must go close with Brian Hughes booked for Dr Richard Newland’s eight-year-old, but Buachaill Alainn (3.10) won the corresponding race 12 months ago from a 2lbs lower mark and gets the vote for the father and son combination of Peter and Sean Bowen.
The selection has never been the most consistent of animals but he is a thorough stayer, will enjoy the forecast good ground and the fact that he showed last year he acts on the track is a big plus. He is likely to be on and off the bridle, but if he is on a going day I feel he must go very close.
Jack Devine cost connections £50,000 having won three of his last four starts in Irish points and a check of the market is advised for the Rose Dobbin-trained newcomer. Court Liability makes his hurdling debut for Harry Whittingham after landing a Fontwell Bumper last month and is another to consider but the nod goes to Richard Fahey’s Judge Earle (1.30) who suggested that a step up in trip would suit when runner up at Wetherby (2m 3f) last time.
Beneficial Joe was a game winner at Uttoxeter last time and will love the ground, but West Of The Edge (2.35) is well handicapped over timber on the best of his chase form and gets the nod with useful conditional Charlie Hammond good value for his 7lbs claim.
At Stratford, I’m looking forward to the hurdle debut of Western Ryder (3.20) for Warren Greatrex. The selection finished fifth in the Cheltenham Bumper and runner up in the Aintree Bumper back in the spring and connections look to have found a good opportunity this afternoon. The selection will get slightly further in time, but the champion jockey is booked and he must go close.
The 2m 6f Novice Chase is a hot little contest with last year’s Sydney Banks Novice Hurdle winner Keeper Hill making his chase debut as does Ballyoptic (3.50) and the vote goes to the latter and another father and son combination of Nige and Sam Twiston-Davies.
The selection is a winning pointer who was just below the best over timber and did fall in two of his first three hurdle races last term, but he has had a recent run over timber and gets the vote in what looks a virtual match with the Greatrex newcomer.
There is a cracking flat card at Lingfield, and in the listed River Eden Stakes for Fillies’ and Mares Melodic Motion (2.25) is taken to score for Ralph Beckett with James Doyle taking over in the saddle.
The selection has only raced once on an artificial surface when she ran with promise over an inadequate trip at Kempton on debut. This daughter of Nathaniel has been progressing well throughout the summer, has an excellent draw in stall four and can gain some more valuable black type for breeding purposes.
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