UK Horse Racing Tips

There are just a few months to go until the Cheltenham Festival 2013, and the potential field for the Gold Cup is already looking very strong indeed.

Last year’s champion Synchronised is sadly no longer with us, and with the legendary Kauto Star retired it is a chance for another horse to write their name into the history books in this most iconic of races. We’ve looked at a handful of the early contenders.

Long Run

2011 Gold Cup winner Long Run was the favourite for last year’s race, but could only manage third, a disappointing result for the seven year old who has previously bettered the likes of Kauto Star and Denman.

Trainer Paul Nicholls has expressed some concerns about the horse after sending him out at Haydock for a season debut in the Betfair Chase, and indeed it transpired that Long Run was bested by another potential Gold Cup contender, Silviniaco Conti.

However, you can never truly rule out a horse of such pedigree, and the bookmakers have him among the front runners at this early stage.

Sir Des Champs

The current favourite, Sir Des Champs has a fine Cheltenham Festival CV, with a Novices’ Chase victory earlier this year and a win in the 2011 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

Trainer Willie Mullins has labelled the horse his “big hope” for the 2013 Gold Cup, and a run out at Punchestown on December 9th should give a good indicator of his progress.

Sir Des Champs has won all seven of his races since coming to Mullins’ yard, having never won a race under his previous trainer, so this is clearly a horse going from strength to strength.

Bobs Worth

One of top jockey Barry Geraghty’s five winners at this year’s festival in the RSA Chase, Bobs Worth has been on the radar for a while, and many are predicting 2013 could be his year at the Gold Cup.

Like Sir Des Champs, he has won on both his previous visits to the Cheltenham Festival, and in fact is considered in some quarters to be a better bet than stable mate Long Run.

However, he has not run since his RSA Chase win, and trainer Nicholls seems nervous about sending him out on the soft going found at most courses of late.

Al Ferof

Yet another Nicholls-trained contender, Al Ferof has come into the frame after winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup on the Cheltenham course recently.

His participation in the festival showpiece appears to hinge on how he fares in the King George VI Stakes at Kempton on Boxing Day. Nicholls would prefer to leave it another year before taking Al Ferof to the Gold Cup, but owner John Hales has his eye on 2013.

The grey will have to overcome a strong field that includes Long Run and Bobs Worth, as well as recent Cheltenham Festival winners Finian’s Rainbow and Riverside Theatre.

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