3.20 Cheltenham (Day 4, Race 4)
Winner £327,326
Advice: 3 pts win Bobs Worth (2/1 general)
Bobs Worth: Amazing to think that just 6 runs ago he was
finishing second in Renyoldstown Chase at Ascot; Hasn’t looked back since,
taking RSA Chase, Hennessy Gold Cup, and last year’s Gold Cup in style when he
was in trouble but crushed rivals coming up the hill; Worries that race left
mark when he was nowhere on seasonal debut but storming late run to take Lexus
put him right back on track and if in same form today on sounder surface, will
take a monumental effort to stop him. 
Cloudy Too: Steady improvement over the last year and a half
but a but couldn’t land a blow in the 3m handicap here last March and down the
field behind Triolo d'Alene in the Hennessy in November; Hard to envisage him
landing a real blow despite impressive win in Rowland Meyrick; Well
beaten in Ascot Chase and hard to see him making a mark.
First Lieutenant: Festival regular, winner of the Neptune,
second in RSA to Bobs Worth and then second in Ryanair when well beaten last
year (did win at Aintree when Silvinaico Conti was behind); Not a fast start to
the season but made Bobs Worth pull out all the stops at Leopardstown and
ground against him next time; Others may stay better but should be present at
the finish. 
Houblon Des Obeaux: A trier and a good one at that, landing
big prize at Ascot of lenient mark and then taking another prize there in
December; However, sixth in Hennessy behind Triolo and needs so much more here;
Beaten 10 lengths in the RSA last year and needs to pick up on that in no
uncertain fashion. 
Katenko: This race was touted as a possible after
astonishing win in handicap last year but missed festival due to injury, fell
in Hennessy, and two of three runs since have been a disappointment; Ground
also turned against him. 
Knockara Beau: Shock winner of the Cleeve when the weights
and the super deep ground combined to see him overturn Big Bucks’ and At
Fishers Cross; However well beaten by Long Run when last seen and that a better
reflection of his ability and chances and others preferred. 
Last Instalment: Looked a Gold Cup horse when he thrashed
First Lieutenant in Topaz novice 3 years ago but sadly injured himself when
winning another Grade 1; Remarkable job done by yard to bring him back and
solid comeback was followed with devastating win in Irish Hennessy, revelling
in the testing ground to beat field including First Lieutenant by eight
lengths; That gives him massive form chance here; has his best form as a novice
on good but worries for him on a quick
surface. 
Lord Windermere: Toughed it out to land RSA Chase last year
but not come within 10 lengths of winning since and can’t be seriously touted. 
Lyreen Legend: Second in the RSA behind Lord Windermere and
needs much more than the form he’s showed this season when he was fifth behind
Bobs Worth at Leopardstown and Last Instalment two months later; Passed over. 
On His Own: Fell in last two nationals, first time when
travelling well, second time when weakening; Not shown best form in the spring
but come right the last twice, front running tactics doing the trick in
Thyestes Chase and taking advantage of generous weight and poor jumping from
runner up to run out a ready winner of Bobbyjo Chase; Not sure that he’s quite
upto this level but at the same time deserves his chance. 
Silviniaco Conti: Crack-staying chaser who was travelling
like a dream when he hit the deck three out in this last year; Presumably not
at his best afterwards when turned over by First Lieutenant at Aintree and run
was needed in Betfair Chase at Haydock but the raw power he showed when
reversing that form at Kempton reminded us of his talent; Not sure he’d have
beaten Bobs Worth last year and also may want the ground with more cut in it
(all major staying successes have come on it; Not had a chance to run on much
else at his peak though); Big player. 
Teaforthree: Jumps well stays all day and would be hard
pushed to find more honest chaser but clearly going for the National this year
and nothing in his form suggests that he’ll play a part today; Could give a
bold showing but otherwise best saved for Aintree. 
The Giant Bolster: Second in 2012 renewal and then fourth
last year when he couldn’t live with class of front three including Bobs Worth;
Out of sorts for a while but then right back to his best when thrashing Rocky
Creek on trials day here; As reliable as anyone to run a big festival race for
all that the market leaders may have his measure once again. 
Triolo D’Alene; Kept the Hennessy Gold Cup in the yard when
coming forward from reappearance with strong showing of staying power to run
out a quite ready winner; Having won Topham Chase beforehand, popular with many
for the National and will go there after this but while he should be respected
as a chaser, big form question mark over him with this year’s Hennessy not
exactly a vintage renewal of the type Bobs Worth won and this a giant leap in
class; Can go well but others more enthusing.
VERDICT: BOBS WORTH underlined his status as the best
staying chaser in training following his Betfair Chase eclipse when mowing down
First Lieutenant in the last furlong of the Lexus Chase and he can retain is
Gold Cup crown. It is unknown what made him run so badly but otherwise he
hasn’t put a foot wrong and it’s impossible to think of a better, or more
powerful, stayer in training. Silviinaco Conti, who was going so well when
falling last year, is a massive threat although it remains to be seen how much
he would have found in the run to the hill and clear preference is for the
Henderson runner. Many worry for the ground regarding Last Instalment’s chances
but he has got form on this surface and is a threat with First Lieutenant’s
stamina for this test a possible worry. The Giant Bolster makes more appeal
than Hennessy winner Triolo D’Alene, who has to prove himself a Grade 1 horse
first of all.
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