Cheltenham Gold Cup Entries Released

Press Release can be seen in full HERE.

HENDERSDON QUINTET HEADS 40 ENTRIES FOR BETFRED CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP
FRENCH IMPORT MAIL DE BIEVRE EXCITES GEORGE​

The countdown to The Festival 2013 heats up today with the unveiling of the entries for the Grade One Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, which takes place on Gold Cup Day, Friday, March 15 and boasts a record prize fund of £550,000 (up from £500,000 in 2012).

A total of 40 entries have been received for chasing’s Blue Riband, which takes place over an extended three and a quarter miles, with Nicky Henderson responsible for five contenders. The master of Seven Barrows looks to hold a particularly strong hand as his hopefuls include Betfred’s 3/1 favourite Bobs Worth, winner of this season’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury and unbeaten in four outings at Cheltenham including at the last two Festivals. Henderson has also entered the 2011 scorer Long Run, who finished third in 2012 and won the King George VI Chase for a second time at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Finian’s Rainbow, successful at The Festival last season in the Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase, could step up in distance, while Henderson’s two other entries are last season’s Ryanair Chase scorer Riverside Theatre and Roberto Goldback.

The days of Kauto Star and Denman may now be over but reigning champion trainer Paul Nicholls still has a strong team for 2013, including Silviniaco Conti, who recorded an impressive first Grade One victory in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park in November and the revitalised Tidal Bay, who defeated Ireland’s best chasers in the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28. Kauto Stone, Kauto Star’s halfbrother, and What A Friend complete Nicholls’ quartet of entries.

A dozen entries hail from Ireland, including Betfred’s 5/1 second favourite Sir Des Champs. The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old landed the Jewson Novices’ Chase at last year’s Festival and was a staying-on fourth behind Tidal Bay at Leopardstown. Flemenstar appeared to find three miles the limit of his stamina in the Lexus Chase, when he finished a close third to Tidal Bay and First Lieutenant, but trainer Peter Casey has stated he wishes to give the eight-year-old another try at the distance in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on February 9 before deciding on a target at The Festival.

An intriguing entry is the Tom George-trained Mail De Bievre. The eight-year-old was a high-class performer in France, where his successes included the Grade Two Prix Murat over two miles and six furlongs in April, 2010. However, Mail De Bievre has not been seen out since finishing fourth over hurdles at the same venue in September, 2011.

George said today: “Mail De Bievre has been with me for a couple of months. He came over from France a year ago and did his pre-training with Chloe Roddick before joining me.
“He is a very exciting horse to have in the yard. He had an injury but touch wood hopefully he has got over that. We are just taking things one step at a time with him. So far, everything is going according to plan.
“The plan is to go for the Denman Chase at Newbury with him as that looks a good place to start. You don’t know with horses until they run, but he looks right and is showing us all the right signs. Newbury will tell us where we are with him.
“His form in France is the best. I asked the handicapper just out of interest what his mark would be and they said as his last mark in France was 175, they would now rate him 160 due to the time he has been off the track.”

 

THE BETFRED CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP​

Class 1, Grade 1, £550,000 Total Prize Fund. Cheltenham, Friday, March 15, 2013. Three miles, two and a half furlongs. For 5yo+ which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including March 9 - horses which are not qualified for a rating in GB, IRE or FR may also be entered & such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse’s racecourse performances up to and including March 8 would merit a minimum rating of 130 (the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final). Weights: 5yo 11st 8lb, 6yo+ 11st 10lb. Allowances: mares 7lb. Entries closed January 8, entries revealed January 9 (40 entries), scratchings deadline February 12, £27,500 supplementary entry stage & six-day confirmation stage March 9. Final 48-hour declaration stage, 10.00am, March 13. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, January 7.


Form Horse Age Owner Trainer

1/1321-1 BOBS WORTH (IRE) 8 The Not Afraid Partnership Nicky Henderson
F13-F11 BOG WARRIOR (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Tony Martin IRE
1114-11 BOLD SIR BRIAN (IRE) 7 Alexander Trotter Lucinda Russell
5110-P4 CALGARY BAY (IRE) 10 Camilla Radford Mick Channon
411-051 CAPE TRIBULATION 9 David Abell Malcolm Jefferson
U3P4-12 CAPTAIN CHRIS (IRE) 9 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
3122-24 CHAMPION COURT (IRE) 8 Martin Boothright Martin Keighley
45041-5 CHINA ROCK (IRE) 10 Michael O'Flynn Mouse Morris IRE
1/1211-4 FINIAN'S RAINBOW (IRE) 10 Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson
23-4232 FIRST LIEUTENANT (IRE) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE
111-113 FLEMENSTAR (IRE) 8 Stephen Curran Peter Casey IRE
1114-P3 GRANDS CRUS (FR) 8 Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds III David Pipe
41F1-P0 HEY BIG SPENDER (IRE) 10 Brocade Racing Colin Tizzard
1113-P2 HUNT BALL (IRE) 8 Anthony Knott Keiran Burke
251U/1P/- IMPERIAL COMMANDER (IRE) 12 Our Friends in the North Nigel Twiston-Davies
30/1122/- JESSIES DREAM (IRE) 10 David Johnson Gordon Elliott IRE
120-352 JONCOL (IRE) 10 Kay Browne Paul Nolan IRE
02FP-10 JUNIOR 10 Middleham Park Racing LI David Pipe
04-F021 KATENKO (FR) 7 Andrew Brooks Venetia Williams
20F0-1P KAUTO STONE (FR) 7 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls
6P-0P13 KNOCKARA BEAU (IRE) 10 Bill Trueman George Charlton
2213-21 LONG RUN (FR) 8 Robert Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson
22211//4- MAIL DE BIEVRE (FR) 8 Patrick Atkinson Tom George
13P-U11 MONBEG DUDE (IRE) 8 Oydunow Michael Scudamore
351/51-1 PRINCE DE BEAUCHENE (FR) 10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE
F1113-0 QUEL ESPRIT (FR) 9 Red Barn Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
113-336 QUITO DE LA ROQUE (FR) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Colm Murphy IRE
21/11P-6 RIVERSIDE THEATRE 9 Jimmy Nesbitt Partnership Nicky Henderson
000-1U3 ROBERTO GOLDBACK (IRE) 11 Simon Munir Nicky Henderson
1241-11 SILVINIACO CONTI (FR) 7 Chris Giles & Potensis Limited Paul Nicholls
1111-24 SIR DES CHAMPS (FR) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins IRE
121-111 SIZING EUROPE (IRE) 11 Ann & Alan Potts Partnership Henry de Bromhead IRE
0P012-5 SUNNYHILLBOY (IRE) 10 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
P11-062 TEAFORTHREE (IRE) 9 T437 Rebecca Curtis
2142-3P THE GIANT BOLSTER 8 Simon Hunt David Bridgwater
541-121 TIDAL BAY (IRE) 12 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls
P40P-21 WAYWARD PRINCE 9 John & Hilary Parrott Hilary Parrott
F1221//-P WEAPON'S AMNESTY (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Charles Byrnes IRE
4P/33F0- WHAT A FRIEND 10 Ged Mason & Sir Alex Ferguson Paul Nicholls
11F2-11 WYCK HILL (IRE) 9 SAB Partnership David Bridgwater

40 entries
12 Irish-trained

Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup – sponsors bet:
3/1 Bobs Worth; 5/1 Sir Des Champs; 13/2 Long Run; 7/1 Silviniaco Conti; 9/1 Flemenstar; 10/1 Tidal Bay; 12/1 First Lieutenant; 20/1 Captain Chris; 25/1 Finian’s Rainbow, Grands Crus, Hunt Ball, Prince De Beauchene, Sizing Europe, The Giant Bolster; 33/1 Bold Sir Brian, China Rock, What A Friend; 40/1 Teaforthree, Weapon’s Amnesty, Champion Court, Imperial Commander, Jessies Dream; 50/1 Katenko, Quel Esprit, Quito De La Roque, Riverside Theatre, Wyck Hill; 66/1 Bog Warrior, Joncol, Junior, Kauto Stone, Mail De Bievre, Monbeg Dude, Roberto Goldback, Sunnyhillboy, Wayward Prince; 100/1 Calgary Bay, Cape Tribulation, Hey Big Spender; 200/1 Knockara Beau

EACH WAY 1/4 THE ODDS A PLACE 1-2-3. ALL QUOTED

 

Ron, I'm not sure if you are planning on doing a Festival Index as per last year, but is so can you link to the entry/weights threads as they go up.

Thanks!

 

Hopefully the new generation can take over from the legendary Kauto Star/Denman/Imperial Commander era

 

Cheltenham Gold Cup Discussion Thread