Stars are aligning for an epic Gold Cup
THE Cheltenham Gold Cup — just saying those four words is enough to quicken the pulse and transport you back to the days when legends were made. I can understand why, 24 days from this year’s Festival, that excitement isn’t widespread. The prospect of some small-field championship races with odds-on favourites is leaving some critics cold and I get that entirely. But the contest which Boodles sponsor — and the one that defines the four days — is building up to be a cracker. It is 100 years since Red Splash won the inaugural race and, to mark the centenary, we have a renewal which shimmers and sparkles. When we look at the contenders, Galopin Des Champs is the obvious starting point and I noted the contentment in Willie Mullins as he gave an upbeat bulletin earlier this week about the champion. Everything this gelding has done this winter screams ‘catch me if you can’. He has been relentless in two Grade One wins at Leopardstown. I’d say he is close to unbeatable over three miles in Dublin and the most impressive part of his races tends to be the closing stages. He has got unbelievable stamina. The field he beat last year, though, didn’t have the depth of this one. For instance, Fastorslow — the second favourite — is bursting with potential and you are being foolish if you think he cannot reverse the form of his clash with Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup two weeks ago. Martin Brassil, who trains Fastorslow, is a genius when it comes to having a horse cherry ripe for a particular day. He ran a brilliant race in the Ultima at last year’s Festival and remains progressive. This is a big player. So, too, is Shishkin. Nicky Henderson’s star has been given a Timeform squiggle for some of his antics. A ‘squiggle’ is like a matrix sign on the motorway which screams: proceed with caution! If he was a footballer, you would think Paolo di Canio or Mario Balotelli. The talent is rare and capable of creating magical moments but catch them on a bad day and all hell could break loose. They’d be just as capable of being sent off as scoring. This is Shishkin in a nutshell. He has won six Grade One races – two of those at Cheltenham – as well as four Grade Twos but all the chatter about him has involved him refusing to start at Ascot last November, then tripping up at the King George on St Stephen’s Day. What will happen at Cheltenham? Your guess is as good as mine. He could hate every second of the Gold Cup, or he could travel around as happy as Larry. If the latter happens, he has the ability to beat Galopin Des Champs. The further we go down the antepost list, the more we can see dangers to the favourite. Shark Hanlon is adamant Hewick, the ultimate ITV horse with his incredible story, will be in the thick of things. Keep reminding yourself this horse cost £800 because his CV is extraordinary. People will tell you Gentlemansgame cannot win because he hasn’t raced since November. To that I’d reply he is trained by Mouse Morris, a man who could have a second job as a magician through his ability to keep pulling rabbits out of a hat. Corach Rambler, the Grand National winner, hasn’t been discussed but he is my idea of the best each-way bet at 25-1. He’ll be at the back of the field and weave his way through when his stamina kicks in. He might go all the way. Yet so might L’Homme Presse, who brings us neatly back to today. He will be expected to win the Betfair Ascot Chase and, while I’m not convinced the course will play to his strengths, he should have too much class for his three rivals. A win here would give the British challenge another significant dart to aim at Galopin Des Champs. And that is what we want in the blue riband of National Hunt racing — intense competition. The days to March 15 can’t pass quickly enough.