Former jockey and Sky Sports activities Racing presenter Mick Fitzgerald has solid his skilled eye over 5 of the important thing contenders for the Cheltenham Pageant Gold Cup.
Henry De Bromhead educated the primary two house in closing season’s race, with Minella Indo and Jack Kennedy defeating A Plus Tard and Rachael Blackmore, with two-time winner Al Boum Photograph again in 3rd.
Different fascinating contenders come with fresh Grade One winner and Cheltenham specialist Galvin, with the most efficient English hope taking a look to be Dan Skelton’s Protektorat. Sky Sports activities Racing skilled and previous jockey Mick Fitzgerald casts his eye over the main contenders.
Al Boum Photograph
I believe we truly have to incorporate Al Boum Photograph in any research of the Gold Cup for the easy reason why he’s a two-time winner of the race. It is demanding to break out from a horse that has two T-shirts that say “Gold Cup winner” and Paul Townend did not really feel it went to plot closing yr when he completed 3rd to Minella Indo.
He appeared each bit as excellent when profitable the Savills Chase at Tramore for a fourth yr operating on New 12 months’s Day and you’ll’t forget about him.
Santini (close to facet) is simply overwhelmed by means of Al Boum Photograph within the 2020 Gold Cup
They have been going to run him extra however they have not and Willie has most probably idea ‘we now have received it two times after profitable at Tramore on New 12 months’s Day so why alternate it’.
Willie has no friends in terms of making ready a horse for a Pageant and he’s going to have him spot on for the massive day.
Strengths – He is a two-time Gold Cup winner.
Vulnerable spot – Did he have any obtrusive excuse for completing 3rd closing yr?
A Plus Tard
I assumed when A Plus Tard ran within the Ryanair two years in the past that he was once a sure bet – I simply could not see him being beat. He completed 3rd to Min, overwhelmed a length-and-a-half, and I will not inform you how disappointing that was once. Final season we noticed him upped in commute and he appeared other magnificence over 3 miles.
He got here from an extended as far back as win the Savills Chase, beating Kemboy in an overly hard-fought end, after which he did not run till the Gold Cup the place he was once outpointed by means of his stablemate Minella Indo, and overwhelmed a length-and-a-quarter. This season he got here out and was once so spectacular within the Betfair Chase on respectable flooring, and that’s the best possible I’ve observed him soar.
A Plus Tard ridden by means of jockey Rachael Blackmore wins the Betfair Chase
He appeared so excellent that day and was once then overwhelmed by means of Galvin within the Savills Chase in December, and there was once clearly no shame on that instance.
Once more, he has profitable shape on the Pageant having received the Indexed Shut Brothers Newbie Handicap Chase over two-and-a-half, been positioned in a Ryanair and completed 2nd in a Gold Cup. He’s ticking all of the packing containers.
Strengths – He appeared so excellent within the Betfair and has confirmed Cheltenham Pageant shape.
Vulnerable spot – He had no excuses when completing 2nd within the Gold Cup closing yr.
Galvin
Fans of this column will know that I’ve a desire for horses that experience profitable shape on the Pageant and this fellow has were given it. Galvin received the Nationwide Hunt Chase closing yr and he remains truly neatly.
He was once a length-and-a-half winner from Subsequent Vacation spot over 3 miles and 6 furlongs and you have got to keep in mind that Local River was once positioned within the Nationwide Hunt Chase and went on and received a Gold Cup. Galvin has already received that race and has been positioned at every other Pageant when completing 2nd to Imperial Air of mystery in a Indexed handicap chase, so you understand he handles the monitor.
Galvin and Davy Russell in motion at Leopardstown throughout the Savills Chase
The truth that he has been to the Pageant a couple of occasions and left with a win and a 2nd position below his belt has to bode neatly for his possibilities. For those who have a look at his runs this season, they have got ended in a Grade One victory within the Savills Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas the place he beat the likes of A Plus Tard, Kemboy and Janidil, and they’re all Grade One winners.
I do know he most effective received by means of a brief head from A Plus Tard, however you understand he’s going to stick and that may be a important weapon in his armoury.
Strengths – Cheltenham Pageant shape.
Vulnerable spot – You might be suffering to search out one and it may well be that he’s simply now not a gorgeous horse.
Minella Indo
“I sound like a damaged report, however it’s that very same outdated factor that Minella Indo has profitable shape on the Pageant and received the Gold Cup closing yr when beating A Plus Tard a size and 1 / 4. Whilst you have a look at this lad’s Pageant shape, it’s arguably higher than anything else within the race.
He has received a Gold Cup, received an Albert Bartlett and was once 2nd in an RSA when, if he hadn’t made a mistake at the second one closing, he would have received – I haven’t any doubt about that. However for that mistake he would had been a three-time Pageant winner and a few horses lift their sport for the assembly and he’s obviously a kind of.
Jack Kennedy wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Minella Indo
He confirmed a go back to shape when 2nd within the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown this month when completing in the back of Conflated and there is not any getting clear of it that Henry de Bromhead’s horse have not been the similar shape as they have been closing season.
Final yr Henry had the primary and 2nd within the Gold Cup, received the Champion Chase with Put The Kettle On and received the Champion Hurdle with Honeysuckle and nobody has ever achieved that – the horses have been again to shape at precisely the precise time. Henry has an improbable Pageant report and if Minella Indo involves the Pageant in a equivalent temper he’s going to cause them to all suppose.
Strengths – He has very sturdy Pageant shape.
Vulnerable spot – His shape this season is not as much as scratch.
Protektorat
I believe we need to come with Protektorat in our research as his most effective run in-and-around 3 miles is arguably essentially the most spectacular he has been. He beat Local River and Sam Brown at Aintree, who’re out and out stayers, however the truth that he was once ready to overcome them at their very own sport, the staying sport, confirmed that he possesses that contact of sophistication.
Other folks may say does he save his best possible shape for Liverpool however the one approach we’re going to in finding that out is when he runs within the Gold Cup. You’ll be able to’t lend a hand being inspired at his Aintree win, his first time over the commute within the Many Clouds Chase and there was once so much to love about that efficiency.
Protektorat ridden by means of Bridget Andrews profitable at Aintree
He has to go into calculations on that effort however you simply do not know the way he’s going to deal with the Gold Cup take a look at on other flooring however he has tempo. The only factor I all the time discovered using round Cheltenham was once that if they’re sluggish horses and also you run them within the Gold Cup, they try as they pass a unique tempo however a horse like him will go back and forth and that may make lifestyles a complete lot more uncomplicated for Harry Skelton.
He is going there a contemporary horse and has proven he acts neatly at the route up to now.
Strengths – He’s one from one over 3 miles plus.
Vulnerable spot – You simply do not know the way he’s going to care for the power cooker that’s the Gold Cup.
