DOUBLE HANDFUL

I’VE a feeling today’s Caspian Caviar Gold Cup could well be won by something with a double-digit price. The only problem is that the 15-runner race looks more open than 24-hour banking, with around two thirds of the field 10-1 or bigger.

Another concern is that with 15 runners, an each-way selection will only pay out on the first three places, which virtually guarantees my selection will be a fast-finishing fourth.

I just can’t bring myself to back favourite Rather Be at the rather miserly price of 3-1.

Sure, he was going well in the Betvictor last month before being brought down four out, but there was still a good six furlongs of racing to be run.

Besides, there’s only been one winning favourite in the last 16 runnings of this contest, so it makes sense to look for a contender with a meatier price.

Ten of the last 16 winners were priced 9-1 or under, which suggests the winning horse might hail from one of Baron Alco, Frodon and Guitar Pete.

Baron Alco won the Betvictor in gutsy fashion but not many horses in history have bagged both the Betvictor and Caspian Caviar (December) Gold Cup in the same season. Exotic Dancer was the last to do it in 2006, which coincidentally was around the last time I saw an exotic dancer.

Frodon, runner-up in the Betvictor, is game and gutsy as they come and still only six.

He meets Baron Alco on better terms today but his mark has steadily risen, making him vulnerable to most of the improvers in the field.

Last year’s winner Guitar Pete has every chance but I’m going to take a chance on the horse who came sixth last year

He’s a massive 10lb better off today, is a course-and-distance winner and blew away some cobwebs with a third-placed effort at Cheltenham back in October.

FOXTAIL HILL.