Silviniaco Conti (3), Road To Riches (10), Holywell (14), Bobs Worth (16)in, Lord Windermere (16), Many Clouds (16), Boston Bob (20), On His Own (20), Shutthefrontdoor (20), Dynaste (25)in, Al Ferof (33), Captain Chris (33), Carlingford Lough (33), Cue Card (33), Don Cossack (33), Houblon Des Obeaux (33), Kings Palace (33), Morning Assembly (33), Sam Winner (33), Simonsig (33), Sir Des Champs (33), Smad Place (33), Wonderful Charm (33), Champagne Fever (40)out, First Lieutenant (40), Menorah (40), Rubi Ball (40), The Giant Bolster (40), Ballycasey (50), Djakadam (50), Fingal Bay (50), Harry Topper (50), Ma Filleule (50), Taquin De Seuil (50), The Young Master (50).

These are the top contenders with prices from Oddschecker upto 50/1.  So who do we think has a chance.

Silvianaco C - 3/1 has the best recent form but plenty short enough having his 3rd attempt at the race having been unplaces twice before.
RTR - 10/1 Looks progressive but never been to cheltenham, certainly got a chance but price is short enough.
Holywell - 14/1 Excellent course form 2/2 in Handicaps. Good win at Aintree last season in top novice race, but beaten and fallen this season and looked to be struggling to me when fell behind Sam Winner. Bound to be spot on March, but is he good enough and short again at 14/1 for me.
Bobsworth - 16/1 Apparently ready for first outing at leopardstown and very disappointing. Only Kauto Star has ever regained Gold Cup. Leave alone IMO.
Lord Windermere - 16/1 Should also have done better at leopardstown and only Best Mate retained Gold Cup in last 40 years is enough to put me off.
Many Clouds - 16/1 Progressive 2nd season chaser and Hennessy Winner. No worthwhile Chelt form though but can't write off.
Boston Bob - 20/1 A bit hit and miss but has ability and would have won the RSA from Lord Windermere in 2013 if he hadn't fallen at the last. Decent ground in march could be up his street. Chances.
Sutthefrontdoor - 20/1 Won his last 2 but only 6th in the NH chase and last behind Sam Winner the time before. Going the right way but too short and not sure he has the class.
On His Own - 20/1 Ran a cracker to be 2nd last year and again last week in the Lexus. In and out performer but can put in a good run. not for me but dangerous to completely rule out.
Dynaste - 25/1 Unlikely to run and will probably go for the Ryanair.
Al Ferof - 33/1 likely to run in other championship race.
Capt Chris - Hates Cheltenham not seen out yet an unlikely to run.
Carlingford Lough - 33/1 Ran with promise in Lexus and not disgraced in RSA last year despite 1 or 2 iffy jumps.  Could surprise?
Cue Card - 33/1 Won't run likely Ryanair.
Don Cossack - 33/1 Being aimed at the Ryanair.
Houblon Des Obeaux - 33/1 Was best horse at the weights in the Hennessy and is double the price of Many Clouds but probably needs soft at Cheltenham to give his running. Chance if it rides soft?
Kings Palace - 33/1 Bookies taking the Mick. RSA runner.
Morning Assembly - 33/1  Not seen out yet. Time running out.
Sam Winner - 33/1 Progressing well and Lexus 3rd. Good Chelt form and more than treble Road To Riches price. Looked to have Holywell in trouble at Aintree and more than double his price. Decent EW value but still needs further improvement.
Simonsig - 33/1 not run for nearly 2 years and not run over this distance, big ask.
Sir Des Champs - 33/1 out injured.
Smad Place - 33/1 Needs to improve on Hennessy 5th but 2nd in Last years RSA and 3rd in the previous 2 Stayers hurdles says 33/1 is a bit of value and not impossible.
Wonderful Charm - 33/1 Looks better over shorter.
Champagne Fever - 40/1 Mullins says will not run over this distance.
First Lieutenant - 40/1 Likes decent going and if allowed to take his chance might run into a place. 2nd in RSA behind Bobsworth and filled same position behind Boston Bob at Punchestown last season.
Menorah - 40/1 2 good races this season before flop in the King George. Percentage call is that he will miss out at Cheltenaham over 3 and a quarter miles.
Rubi Ball - 40/1 Not run for over a year and not won for 2 years. Big ask.
The Giant Bolster - 40/1 Comes alive at Cheltenham in Spring 2nd, 3rd & 4th in last 3 Gold Cups. Can't see him winning but would be foolish to dismiss out of hand. Place chances again.
Ballycasey - 50/1 Unlikely to run over this distance.
Djakadam - 50/1 Not good enough in the Hennessy should be double the price and still wouldn't be tempted.
Fingal Bay - 50/1 Broke blood vessel in Hennessy and not seen since. Has Chelt Festival form but a big ask and short on experience.
Harry Topper - 50/1 Would come into calculations if it was heavy, however thats unlikely so passed over.
Ma Filleuile - 50/1 at 3 1/2 times the price of Holywell might be a spot of value but beaten by Sam Winner at Aintree
Taquin De Seuil - 50/1 No chance on this seasons form, but Jonjo does have them ready for March and this lad won at last years Festival.
The Young Master - 50/1 Unlikely to run.

There you go

BTW, not sure I agree with your comment that Captain Chris 'hates' Cheltenham, being an Arkle winner!

They are certainly classier, SW is the type to mop up a race that goes off too quick - think Synchronized or LW last year. Think he'll run - especially if we have rain. He's the one with the least chance of the ones I've listed though.

btw, not knocking Conti at all. Massively well deserved fav. 11/4 just isn't a price I like backing at in a race which has lots of murky dangers floating around. Just needs one to run the race of his life and you've lost.

That's nonsense Benjy, horses have a max level of ability. Running the race of its life still means it runs to it's best ability. The level of that ability could be a stone less than the fav's best regardless of how well the horse ran it'll still lose. Many horses who have a a big surprise win have needed fallers or a race to fall apart etc..

But with this Gold Cup we've no idea  what the best of many of these horses is, hence the large number of dangers. Like what about shutthefrontdoor? Or Smad Place? Or Many Clouds etc.. so many can run the race of their lives and prove to be good enough to win a Gold Cup.

Yeh,ive got C lough on my side after watching the Lexus,thought he ran really well and will improve a lot for that. I Was also impressed with S Winner and think the Gold Cup conditions will really suit him.
Don't really think any of the beaten horses will beat the winner though, and he now for me is the most likely winner.

Duffy,
The Gold cup over the years has had a fair few handicappers placed and indeed won the race.
This race is a real stayers race and the so called class horses last year failed and I would not be at all surprised if that were to happen again.
I genuinely feel that horses like Houblon,Sam Winner,TGB etc, all available at nice odds,will prove to be threats in this years race.
Sine the likes of Kauto and Denman(class horses) we have had real proper stayers winning and placing in the Gold Cup,its become a handicappers type race in a way,certainly was last year, could well happen again this year.

Conti was also suffering from stomach ulsers last year, which Nicholls has said contributed to his weak finish in the Gold Cup, and don't forget he wandered around in the finish of the Aintree Bowl, where he beat the Ryanair winner. 

Everyone seems to have forgiven Al Ferof for his stomach ulsers, but conveniently forget about it for Conti.  Shows his class imo.

Nicholls says all he does is stay, so I take his word for that (he is the master 3m chase trainer), so with the all clear with the ulsers, added to the cheekpieces, and imo this has been his most impressive season in terms of jumping and travelling in his races, he is rightfully favourite for the Gold Cup.

Nice to see hes changed his mind and now thinks Cheltenham wont be a problem after saying hes better on flat tracks.He will have to be at his best to win over 3m2f at Cheltenham imo,with so many tough stayers to beat.
Now the horse has to prove his comments are correct,i wont be taking current price to find out, that's for sure.


No one is doubting his class,just his ability to win a tough 3m2f race at Cheltenham,i think that's fair enough when the horse is pretty short in the betting, and for whatever reasons has failed in that race twice.
No problem with people looking at the excuses..... ulcers or whatever, and now cheekpieces, and thinking that will make a big difference,thats fair enough.

Well he was going well last year 3 out, did not fall, and still did not win after jumping the last in front.
The course and distance could well be the reason behind that.
The excuses put up by connections could also have something to do with it.
Up to us what we believe or think, and then look at the odds.
Yep, I would rather look at LW at the prices and a fair few others e/w would appeal as well before 3/1 the fav.

Holywell will be a different horse in the spring back at Cheltenham,probably with Richie on !

Oh certainly some sort of illness in Jonjos yard, he's not had a winner since the paddy power meeting in mid November. He's not been putting out many runners and flu jabs time now too. I'd imagine he's hoping they can come back to form in Feb

Noel Meade yet to win a chase at the Cheltenham Festival.  Road to Riches probably his best chance, but I was surprised when I read that.

Yeah, it wouldn't stop me backing RTR, just surprised someone of his stature hasn't broken his chase duck yet.

Yes he can,but just talking about current prices...in particular Holywell and his form this season.

Aintree form is not reliable imo when looking at the chelt festival following year, races often containing horses over the top after being trained for Chelt. Some carry their form on to Aintree, some don't.
Personally I don't take a lot of notice of these races when thinking of punting for the following festival.

You pays your money and you takes the choice.

I can't have it that the O'Faolain's Boy ran to anything like his true (RSA) form at Aintree - he's reported as sustaining the injury which ruled him out for this season during that race too. The Hennessy winner has subsequently smashed Holywell to bits at Carlisle also.

He needs to come out and prove his wellbeing ahead of the Festival for me but if he turns up for the Gold Cup without another run, I could n't really have him on my mind and if he won I would n't regret not backing him either.

S'pose I might feel slightly differently on the morning of the race if Jonjo has already had multiple winners earlier in the week but although it might not be a vintage Gold Cup renewal in terms of quality it is shaping up to be pretty competititive in my opinion.

budd

you make it sound like it was some sort of two bob race at the end of the season that no-one really could bother with, it was a grade 1 race with a decent field contesting it.

Rease

Yes Many Clouds has smashed up Holywell this term but just like with O'Faolain's boy and actually even more so in Holywell's case we know he's far better than that because of what he did to Many Clouds last year....the form of that grade 1 novice chase is very strong in relation to a progression towards this years GC.

sorry initial entry is tomorrow

Cue Card going for the Ryanair I'm afraid Makybe


COLIN Tizzard has abandoned plans of winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Cue Card.

The Milborne Port icon will instead target the shorter Ryanair Chase, a race he won by a record nine lengths in 2013. After the eight-year-old’s fifth place in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day the trainer admitted: “Cue Card doesn’t stay 3m.

“He wasn’t far away two out but didn’t get home. I know he won the Betfair over a shade longer than 3m at Haydock Park last season but on that day he was the only horse who had had the benefit of a previous run.

“We have now tried him three times round Kempton in the King George and three times he has not stayed.”

There is even a doubt about the horse going anywhere because he returned from the King George with a cut fetlock but Tizzard thinks he will recover in time for his Festival appointment over 2m5f on Thursday, March 12.