held up, no chance from 16th, tailed off
tracked leader, mistake 9th, lost 2nd 12th, losing place when not fluent 16th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened
held up and behind, mistake 9th, reminder after 10th, jumped right 13th, no chance from 16th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up and behind, mistakes 1st and 5th, steady headway approaching 18th, ridden 2 out, soon no impression
led to 13th, led again 15th, headed 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, headway going well after 11th, went 2nd approaching 18th, led 3 out, 3 lengths clear last, ridden and ran on well flat
tended to jump right, in touch and took keen hold, mistakes 8th and 15th, soon weakened, fell 17th
held up in touch, short of room and lost place 10th, headway under pressure approaching 3 out, jumped left 2 out, stayed on one pace
tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th, led 13th to 15th, not fluent 16th, ridden approaching 4 out, stayed on one pace from 3 out, held on for 3rd
held up in touch, took closer order 9th, not fluent 4 out, no impression from 2 out
held up towards rear, blundered 1st and 2nd, headway on inside after 16th, went 2nd 3 out, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, kept on flat but no impression on winner
mid-division, mistake 13th, headway approaching 17th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, mistake 9th, weakened 16th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, not fluent 3rd, mistakes 4th (water) and 7th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
took keen hold, held up and behind, headway into mid-division 12th, weakening when mistake 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
With the unfortunate absences of Best Mate and Kingscliff, and the desperate misfortune to befall Farmer Jack, the Gold Cup is not as competitive as it once looked like being, but, that said, it has still produced a very good line-up, with our vote going to Beef Or Salmon ahead of Celestial Gold, Grey Abbey, Kicking King and Strong Flow. The Irish have already had an excellent week and they are strongly represented here by Beef Or Salmon, a staying on fourth in last year's Gold Cup, victorious in this season's Lexus Chase, and reportedly sick after being defeated by Rule Supreme in the Vincent O'Brien Gold Cup at Leopardstown in early February, and King George VI Chase winner, Kicking King, who arrives here very much on an upward curve and should run a big race. That King George win was only his second try at a three-mile trip and there are many that believe he will struggle to stay Cheltenham's longer and more-demanding undulations. We will find out today, but both of the Irish runners are granted huge respect with, as we say, our narrow preference being Beef Or Salmon. Paul Nicholls, who won this race in 1999 with See More Business, runs his 2003 Hennessy Gold Cup winner Strong Gold. Injured in his race after that Newbury success. It has been a great effort from Nicholls to get this gelding back to the racetrack. He is, undoubtedly, very talented and confirmed his wellbeing last time with a one-and-a-half length second to the unfortunate Farmer Jack in the Aon Chase with Celestial Gold a head away in third, and Sir Rembrandt a further 14 lengths away in fourth. Owing to Kingscliff's absence, Andy Thornton switches to last year's runner-up, Sir Rembrandt, but he has yet to sparkle so far this year. However, both Celestial Gold and Strong Flow command respect, Celestial Gold having worked his way through the ranks by winning this season's Paddy Power Gold Cup at this track and the Hennessy Gold Cup. Funnily enough, the two highest-rated British-based horses in the field are last season's Martell Cognac Cup winner, Tiutchev, and Grey Abbey, last season's Scottish Grand National winner and a resounding scorer from Therealbandit, who has something to prove now, here at the end of January. Much as Grey Abbey has had a joint problem since then, the fact that he lines up means that he too has to be respected - and any further rainfall will help - but Tiutchev is hard to strongly fancy on recent form. Once again, then, this spins us back to the selection for the 2005 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, which is Beef Or Salmon.
Astonville (FR) 500-1 Held up, lost touch after 5th, 13th of 14, 36l behind Hardy Eustace at Cheltenham 2m Champ hdl (A) gd.
Ballycassidy (IRE) 16-1 Led until 6th, weakened approaching 10th, tailed off 13th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Farmer Jack at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb, 8 ran.
Beef Or Salmon (IRE) 8-15fav In touch, hampered 5 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, disputed lead, headed last, soon no extra, eased close home, 2nd of 7, 14l behind Rule Supreme at Leopardstown 3m chs Grd 1 (A) sft in Feb.
Celestial Gold (IRE) 2-1jt-fav Held up, headway 13th, short of room just after last, switched right and not quicken flat, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Farmer Jack at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb.
Grey Abbey (IRE) 10-3 Led to 6th, pressed leader, led 8th to 10th, led again 13th, made rest, ridden and stayed on strongly from 2 out, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Jan beating Therealbandit by 16l, 7 ran.
Kicking King (IRE) 3-1fav In touch, tracked leader from 9th, led 12th, mistake 4 out, 10 lengths clear when blundered badly last, kept on under pressure run-in, won at Kempton 3m chs Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec beating Kingscliff by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Pizarro (IRE) 11-10fav Settled 2nd, slight mistakes 7th, 9th and 10th, improved to dispute lead 4 out, ridden and headed before next, rallied under pressure approaching last, switched left run-in, no impression close home, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Hedgehunt.
Royal Auclair (FR) 10-11fav Held up last, reminders after 14th, ridden 15th, behind 4 out, rallied and stayed on one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 4, 8l behind Heros Collonges at Wincanton 3m 1f lst chs (A) gs in Feb.
Sir Rembrandt (IRE) 6-1 Held up in touch, headway 11th, ridden when short of room on bend approaching 4 out, soon no impression, 4th of 8, 16l behind Farmer Jack at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb.
Strong Flow (IRE) 2-1jt-fav Disputed lead until led 6th, headed 8th, with leader until led 13th, ridden 2 out, headed last, not quicken flat, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Farmer Jack at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb.
Take The Stand (IRE) 7-1 Held up in touch, chased leading pair approaching 11th, ridden 4 out, no impression, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Lord Transcend at Haydock 3m hcp chs Grd 2 (A) hvy in Jan.
Therealbandit (IRE) 11-4fav Held up off pace, tracked leaders 14th, chased winner before 2 out, no impression last, 2nd of 7, 16l behind Grey Abbey at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Jan.
Tiutchev 12-1 Tracked leaders, jumped left 7th, lost place 9th, lame when tailed off and pulled up at the 13th in race won by Kicking King at Kempton 3m chs Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec, 13 ran.
Truckers Tavern (IRE) 12-1 Towards rear, headway when hit 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened last, 5th of 11, 17l behind Forest Gunner at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
Rule Supreme (IRE) 11-2 Tracked leaders, improved to lead after 3 out, ridden and joined after 2 out, regained lead last, stayed on well to draw clear run-in, won at Leopardstown 3m chs Grd 1 (A) sft in Feb beating Beef Or Salmon by 14l, 7 ran.
