Our expert takes a look through the ante-post betting for Saturday’s feature handicap and provides readers with two tips for Cheltenham this weekend.
Cheltenham’s Open Meeting has always been a popular event, with the feature race on day two being the BetVictor Gold Cup. This two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase has seen many classic renewals in its 60-year history, with the names of Fortria, Gay Trip, Al Ferof and Exotic Dancer standing out on the honour boards.
The entries for Saturday’s renewal look packed with quality and racegoers can look forward to a fantastic edition of the BetVictor Gold Cup. Our expert has taken a look through the ante-post betting and highlighted two entrants for punters to place their faith in.
BetVictor Gold Cup Tip One
Gary Moore hasn’t enjoyed a great amount of success in recent seasons, but he will have high hopes for BARON ALCO here, who performed well on his reappearance having spent the entirety of last season on the sidelines. The returning Baron Alco was backed in from 9s to 4/1 before the off at Chepstow and looked to have seen off all challengers from the front before a resurgent Charbel got up right on the line.
Before his injury woes, Baron Alco was keeping top order in novice company. Jamie Moore’s mount finished second behind Top Notch in the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase and second twice over course-and-distance here at Cheltenham – losing out to Whisper in-between maiden victories, before crossing the line behind Road To Respect in the Brown Advisory Plate.
Jamie Moore will have to choose between Baron Alco and Benatar, another talented chaser I really like. Hopefully he picks Baron Alco, who he knows inside out and is sure to strip fitter after a hugely encouraging reappearance.
Baron Alco (left) pushes Top Notch in the Scilly Isles Chase in 2017.
BetVictor Gold Cup Tip Two
Course form is often vital here at Cheltenham and one who has that in abundance is GUITAR PETE, who should get in right at the bottom of the weights for the in-form Nicky Richards team.
The former Sandra Hughes inmate was in excellent form during his first full season with Richards, following four narrow defeats with an emphatic victory in a Listed Handicap Chase at Wetherby. Guitar Pete’s first appearance in the BetVictor Gold Cup got off to the worst possible start, as the falling Theinval badly hampered Ryan Day's mount at the first and they were always on the back foot. Guitar Pete was then fancied by some to run well in the Caspian Caviar here at Cheltenham and the eight-year-old proved his backer right, staying strong after the last to hold off Clan Des Obeaux and win by a couple of lengths.
Richard’s charge was given a spin on the flat to prepare for a return trip to Wetherby, where he ran another great race – despite carrying a stone more on his back than when winning the year before - to finish second behind Born Survivor. Guitar Pete will go to post carrying the same 10-2 weight he shouldered when winning the Caspian Caviar and a reproduction of that performance should see him competitive once again.