Spinal Research The Atlantic 4 Gold Cup 2011

2.30 Cheltenham

Spinal Research The Atlantic 4 Gold Cup (Grade 3 Handicap Chase) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £56,950

Advice: 1 pt each/way Great Endeavour (8/1 general), Divers (8/1 general)

Woolcombe Folly: Mooted by some as a serious Champion Chase contender when romping away with strong handicap here last December; Didn’t go on after that and promising reappearance followed by very poor run into second latest.

 

Great Endeavour: Picked up where he left off from 2 seasons ago (when he won the Bryne Group Plate at the Cheltenham Festival) after a below par season when bolting up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, having enjoyed a perfect trip; Understandably tried for Hennessy win and was going very well until stamina told late on; This hardest task of all, given his 10lbs rise in handicap and 2 hard races, but one can’t deny that he won the Paddy Power Gold Cup with ease and tempting once again even with circumstances possibly against him.

 

Medermit: Took his time to get hang of chasing last year but did so impressively when winning Scilly Isles Novice Chase; Didn’t live up to that at big spring festivals but good attitude shown when winning the Haldon Gold Cup (likely winner Captain Chris unseated); Well held in Grade 2 at Ascot and needs more here, although wouldn’t be a surprise to see him win this even though he might not have that much in hand of his handicap.

Roberto Goldback: Showed smart form on more than one occasion last year but always held, apart from when looking likely to land Punchestown Gold Cup when falling at last; Doesn’t look in the right form to be landing this and others preferred.

Ghizao: Made into a very useful novice chaser last season, twice beating Arkle winner Captain Chris with lot in hand; Didn’t perform well at big spring festivals thanks to poor jumping, but that again the problem when fourth in Haldon Gold Cup; Easily good enough to win this but stamina/jumping the issue.

I’msingingtheblues: Kept up his fine run of form with a fourth in the Tingle Creek 7 days ago; While peak efforts are at 2 miles, he definitely gets this trip; Needs more however, as he was flattered to come fourth in Tingle Creek and others preffered.

Calgary Bay: Plenty of talent (as shown in his novice days) and still retains that based on his fourth in December Gold Cup last year (then when second to Whishfull Thinking); Can’t help but think that he’s got an each/way chance if bringing his best to the table (improved a lot to come fourth in this last year), although this a stronger renewal.

Tatenen: Taking this isn’t beyond him if finding the form that saw him seen as an Arkle contender a couple of years ago, like when he bolted up at Ascot over 3 miles; Too inconsistent to be trusted though and that win came off mark of 137.

Quantativeeasing: Looked as if sky was the limit earlier on in career over hurdles and while he hasn’t quite lived up to that promise, he did well for himself last year when getting hang of thing over fences (second to Divers at Festival before non – stayer in Irish National); Reversed that form with Divers when a well beaten second behind Great Endeavour in the Paddy Power, form which sees him now 9lbs better off for a 7 length beating; Should be right there.

Roudoudou Ville: Has progressed in leaps and bounds since joining current yard from France, winning easily twice and finding more improvement for convincing Sandown win latest; Worth a good look despite steep upping in class and 8lbs rise in weights; Interesting.

Finger On The Pulse: Talented enough when he wants to be, as shown when winning the Jewson at the 2008 Festival, before winning the Galway Plate sometime later; Beaten easily in Paddy Power and probably not the horse of old.

 

Divers: Beneficiary of a great ride when winning Novices handicap chase at the Festival, with plenty in hand over Quantativeeasing and Tullamore Dew, and used poor return as a springboard to come good third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup; Weighted to reverse that form with the pair that finished infront of him that day and should go well once again.

Sunnyhillboy: Improving handicapper who was probably given too much to do when second behind Great Endeavour at 2010 Festival and then in successive 2m5f handicaps here last season, before falling at Cheltenham Festival; Confirmed he was still on upgrade with Irish National third and promising reappearance (hurdles) makes him one to note here; Choice of AP McCoy over Quantativeeasing.

Mathui: Was in form of his life earlier last season, having beaten very useful yardstick by 9 lengths at Ascot before splitting well-handicapped/unexposed types in a strongly run race at Newbury (winner favourite); Plenty of promise after last two runs (going well enough when brought down at the last in Galway Plate, although whether he’d have won is another matter); Not impossible to see a big run from him in this.

Nomcheki: Not without ability based on his seconds to Anquetta and Tataniano recently, although he was well beaten at Open meeting last weekend and needs much more here; Pulled up after slog through the mud at Aintree.

Salut Flo: Fascinating contender based on his UK debut romp in March 2010, for which he went up 14lbs; Might not have liked heavy ground when beaten into second at Haydock next time, and that form has worked out fairly well since); Missed all of last season with leg issues and fascinating runner here; Interesting.

Mad Moose: Completed hat trick in summer before then being exposed in decent handicap company; Caught late on having looked sure to win at Cheltenham and then left into second when several others disappointed at Wincanto; Since been exposed in Newbury Novice Chase and others much better handicapped.

VERDICT: This will be GREAT ENDEAVOUR’s third big handicap in four weeks but he still looks the obvious place to start, despite being far worse off with DIVERS and Quanatitveeasing. A 10lbs rise for his easy Paddy Power win suggests that he should still be competitive and while he has a very high rating, winning this off a big weight is by no means impossible, as dual winner Poquelin has shown. Ferdy Murphy’s Divers makes a lot of appeal as an each/way saver, given that he’s weighted to reverse form with the front two from the Paddy Power. Sunnyhillboy should take the beating following his hurdles tuneup, Ghizao’s good enough to take this although his jumping and stamina are becoming a problem, which leaves Roudoudou Ville, who’s going to be popular despite an 8lbs rise for his win last time.