mid-division, pushed along from 13th, never going pace to reach leaders, weakened 17th, behind when pulled up before 5 out
held up behind, struggling 15th, never a threat, weakened before 5 out,
mid-division, outpaced 5 out, no impression in 8th 3 out, never near leaders, weakened flat
led after 1st, made rest, driven 2 lengths clear before 2 out, ridden and hard pressed when hung right final 110 yards, held on gamely
mid-division, headway to track leaders 17th, driven to chase leading pair after 3 out, one pace next, ridden and stayed to take 2nd and every chance final 110 yards, held towards finish
tracked leaders, not fluent 17th, pushed along 4 out, ridden to dispute 3rd after next, kept on same pace, no impression in 4th from 2 out
towards rear, under pressure when blundered 15th, soon weakened, pulled up before 5 out
mid-division on outside, struggling 13th, no danger after
soon under pressure in rear, lost touch 10th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch, chased leaders on outside 4 out, soon outpaced, ridden and no impression from after next
tended to jump right, disputed 2nd until tracked winner 9th, lost place 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace and no impression from next
led to after 1st, tracked winner to 9th, remained close up in 3rd, went 2nd again 3 out, soon ridden and 2 lengths down, kept on and every chance flat, no extra when lost 2nd final 100 yards
held up in touch, lost place 12th, pushed along when mistake next, weakened 5 out, behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch on inside, tracked leaders 5 out, driven and outpaced in 6th 3 out, soon beaten
mid-division, outpaced 5 out, never on terms with leaders
mid-division, lost place and towards rear 7th, reminder after 10th, struggling 14th (water), soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
A bumper field for racing's Blue Riband and it looks one of the most open Gold Cups for many a year. Ten of the 18-strong field are Grade 1 winners and Lord Windermere bids to follow up his victory of 12 months ago. He's won both previous races at The Festival but there shouldn't be much between Davy Russell's mount, The Giant Bolster, On His Own, Silviniaco Conti and Bob's Worth again. The latter won the race in 2013, when The Giant Bolster was fourth, but Cheltenham hasn't brought the best out of Silviniaco Conti in the past though he is easily the best of the home team over 3m. Djakadam has been well backed since defying a big weight in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran in January but only one six-year-old has won this in the last 50 years and his overall form doesn't measure up against a few of these. Many Clouds has made giant strides this season and was completing a hat-trick when beating Smad Place and The Giant Bolster in a Grade 2 on Trials Day here in January. But he would have undoubtedly preferred a softer surface and is closely matched with Holywell on the form book. Jonjo O'Neill's charge, a Festival winner 12 months ago, shouldn't be underestimated but Don Cossack has been cleaning up in small field in Ireland and will find this much tougher. There is nothing wrong with the form of Road To Riches, however, as he had a number of these behind when winning the Lexus Chase in December and the rest will have recharged his batteries. However, there is a question mark over his stamina in a fast-run race over 3m2f. Mark Bradstock is taking a gamble in running CONEYGREE against these battle-hardened Grade 1 performers but believes his novice is something special. He never looked in any danger when leading from start to finish in the Denman at Newbury last time and Nico de Boinville's mount can put these to the sword as well.
Bobs Worth (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, dropped to rear 4 out, no impression approaching last, kept on one pace, 8th of 9, 13l behind Road To Riches (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m chs G1 (1) in Dec.
Boston Bob (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Towards rear, 9th 4 out, some progress in 6th before last, no impression and kept on one pace run-in, 4th of 8, 10l behind Carlingford Lough (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m chs G1 (1) in Feb.
Carlingford Lough (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, mistake in 5th 2 out, ridden early straight and went 3rd before last, led over 100 yards out and kept on well under pressure, won at Leopardstown 3m chs G1 (1) in Feb beating Foxrock (11-10) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Coneygree 15-8fav (11-5) Jumped well, made all, brushed 4 out, clear and well in command from 2 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb beating Houblon Des Obeaux (11-6) by 7l, 6 ran.
Djakadam (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Mid-division early, chased leaders from 6th, 4th halfway, improved to dispute before straight, led 2 out, ridden to assert before last, kept on strongly, won at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp chs hvy in Jan beating My Murphy (11-4) by 8l, 17 ran.
Holywell (IRE) 1-4fav (11-8) Made all, clear before 4 out, easily, won at Kelso 3m 2f chs (2) gs in Feb beating Fentara (10-5) by 25l, 4 ran.
Home Farm (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 10th, no extra after 2 out, weakened straight, 7th of 8, 22l behind Carlingford Lough (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m chs G1 (1) in Feb.
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 10-3 (11-6) Mostly chased winner, pushed along before 4 out, ridden and no chance from 2 out, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Coneygree (11-5) at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Lord Windermere (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, progress into 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, strongly pressed and headed last, no extra in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Carlingford Lough (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m chs G1 (1) in Feb.
Many Clouds (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Pressed leader from 2nd, led 14th, not fluent next, ridden after 2 out, edged right towards finish, stayed on, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan beating Smad Place (11-2) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
On His Own (IRE) 10-3fav (11-10) Led, jumped right 9th and slow next, headed 2 out, ridden and dropped to 5th last, no extra, 6th of 8, 12l behind Carlingford Lough (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m chs G1 (1) in Feb.
Road To Riches (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Led, headed after 4th, 2nd halfway, 3rd 3 out, ridden approaching last, led run-in and kept on under pressure to assert close home, won at Leopardstown 3m chs G1 (1) in Dec beating On His Own (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Sam Winner (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, 3rd halfway, progress to dispute 4 out, ridden approaching last, headed run-in, no extra closing stages, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Road To Riches (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m chs G1 (1) in Dec.
Silviniaco Conti (FR) 15-8fav (11-10) Made virtually all, stayed on strongly from 2out, won at Kempton 3m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec beating Dynaste (11-10) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Smad Place (FR) 11-4 (11-2) Held up, closed 12th, mistake 14th, close 3rd after 3 out, stayed on, went 2nd towards finish, unable to challenge winner, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Many Clouds (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
The Giant Bolster 11-2 (11-10) With leader until after 1st, tracked leaders on inside, pushed along 16th, soon lost place, not able to get back on terms, not fluent 4 out, plugged on flat, 4th of 6, 8l behind Many Clouds (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Don Cossack (GER) 6-4 (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, slight mistake 2 out, ridden to challenge and left clear last, kept on well, won at Thurles 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (1) in Jan beating Texas Jack (11-8) by 44l, 4 ran.
River Choice (FR) (10-8) 4th of 11, 12l behind Rasique (10-7) at Fontainebleau(FR) 2m 3f hdl sft in Feb.
