Reigning Champion Set To Run Well But Classy Coneygree Taken To Beat Him
When you come across a Gold Cup where the 4/1 favourite has been beaten in the race for the past 2 years you know you are going to be getting some serious each way value.
Silviniaco Conti is a very talented horse but he’s a King George horse not a Gold Cup horse, proven by the fact that he fell in this in 2013 before finishing 4th last year.
Last year’s race wasn’t a strong one and he still couldn’t even place so it’s time to look elsewhere.
We have two former winners in the field here with Bobs Worth 14/1 and Lord Windermere lining up 12/1.
The former has never taken much racing and seems to have been on the decline for the past couple of seasons.
His 5th here last year wasn’t a bad run but he was well beaten on his only race since and physical problems look to have caught up with him.
Lord Windermere is quite interesting. He’s no superstar but this isn’t the best renewal once again and he’s done better in his prep this year than last year before winning this.
He’s a winner at the last 2 Festivals and there is no reason why he shouldn’t run into a place at least here.
If you think Lord Windermere will run well then On His Own also has to be considered as he was only beaten a short head in the race last year.
He might have been a bit unlucky not to win but he dictated a slow pace whereas Lord Windermere came from the back off a slow pace so Lord Windermere should be considered the better horse.
On His Own is unlikely to get his own way up front again.
If Lord Windermere is vulnerable it is up against something with bit more class and three runners with potential to show that class are Djakadam 8/1 Holywell 9/1 and Many Clouds 9/1
The former comes from the in form Willie Mullins stable and looks to have any amount of ability but if successful here he’d become just the second 6 year old winner in 50 years.
He fell here last year and simply has too many questions to answer at the price.
Many Clouds may have proved himself at Cheltenham on his latest start but beating Smad Place by just over a length doesn’t scream Gold Cup winner.
That leaves Conygree as the next potential star in this division and he might just be that.
The novice has won all three chase starts, has won his two races at 3 miles easily and should improve further over this test.
His latest win in the Denman Chase marks him down as something a bit special and any rain would help his cause too.
So Lord Windermere looks nailed on to run well but there is a bit more class in this race this year than last so take Conygree to come out on top.
He looks more of a win only bet considering his lack of experience could still catch him out whilst Lord Windermere is a safe each way selection.
