prominent, led 5th to 11th, led again 13th, mistake 16th, not fluent and headed next, ridden approaching 4 out, one pace from next
held up in mid-division, steady headway 15th, went 2nd travelling well 4 out, challenged next, soon led, quickened approaching 2 out, soon clear, pushed out flat, easily
prominent, challenged 16th, led approaching next, ridden and headed soon after 3 out, weakened last
prominent, hit 9th, ridden and weakened approaching 17th
mid-division, lost place 15th, headway approaching 4 out, kept on one pace from 2 out
held up, mistake 11th and 13th, lost touch 5 out, behind and pulled up before 3 out
held up, not fluent 7th, mistake 12th, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, stayed on well flat, went 3rd near finish
held up towards rear, headway 10th, weakened quickly approaching 18th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, not fluent 5th or 9th, behind when mistake 15th and next, soon weakened
led 5th, tracked leader until after 8th, ridden and weakened quickly 17th
prominent, went 2nd after 8th, led 11th to 13th, remained prominent, reminders 15th, weakened 17th, behind when mistake 3 out
held up towards rear, steady headway 15th, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on from next, went 2nd soon after last, kept on flat, no chance with winner
in touch, took closer order over 12th, went 2nd briefly after 5 out, pecked next, every chance 3 out, outpaced by winner when mistake 2 out, weakened flat
always behind
Best Mate is officially the best rated horse in the race as he attempts to become the first horse since L'Escargot in 1971 to land back-to-back Gold Cups. People have made a big deal about that statistic but, in reality, only five horses have won it more than once, these being Easter Hero, Golden Miller, Cottage Rake, Arkle and L'Escargot. However, if a horse is good enough it will defy the figures and Best Mate, who has also landed this season's Pertemps King George VI Chase, certainly seems plenty good enough and could easily be the best British-based staying chaser that we have seen for a long time. As such, he gets the selection. Courtesy of his 'King George' second, Marlborough comes into the race rated 168, two pounds behind Best Mate. He has been a grand servant to Nicky Henderson but looks held by the selection on that run. See More Business (165) is remarkable, having won the race in 1999 and finished third last year. However, admirable that he is, it is hard to see him winning this as a 13-year-old despite his emphatic win at Wincanton last time. His stablemate Valley Henry (160) who has plenty of ability, is improving but would not want the going too to be too soft. He could well run into a place and, to concur with a view held by his trainer, could become a Gold Cup winner if toughening up a little mentally. Chief among the Irish hopes is the novice Beef Or Salmon. He has quickly come to the fore in the betting following four successive wins, including the Hennessy Gold Cup on his last run, in which he beat Colonel Braxton and Harbour Pilot. It would be truly remarkable for him to win the Gold Cup after just four chase runs but the shrewd Michael Hourigan, who has always thought the world of him, would not be in a hurry to overface him. As such, he warrants a great deal of respect. Behrajan comes here in good heart following his Pillar Property Chase win but quite what the purists would think of a son of Arazi winning chasing's blue riband event is anyone's guess! Commanche Court finished runner-up last year and is gradually coming back to form. Overall, though, and admirable that he is - still an entire with Triumph Hurdle and Irish National successes under his belt - he is opposable. Hussard Collonges (162) is almost the forgotten horse of the race. He won the Royal & SunAlliance Chase last year and Looks like Trouble has completed that double in recent years. His form is rock solid and his Hennessy and Peter Marsh (in which he finished two-and-a-half lengths behind Truckers Tavern when conceding 15lbs) runs give him every chance of being in the money and his trainer, Peter Beaumont knows what it takes to win the race, having been victorious with with Jodami in 1993. First Gold seems to have lost a little of his zest following an injury, the 2000 King George winner having been well beaten by See More Business at Wincanton on his last run. All things considered then, it all points to Best Mate, extremely well handled by Henrietta Knight and her husband Terry Biddlecombe, who won the race as a jockey with Woodland Venture in 1967, to defy the statistics and win the Gold Cup again.
