Cheltenham Gold Cup with last year`s winner

Cheltenham, Friday 17 March: The Festival at Cheltenham concludes today with six races. Traditionally, the Gold Cup (4th race/16.30pm/625,000 pounds/5294m) takes centre stage. The twelve entrants include the winners of the last two years, A Plus Tard (Rachael Blackmore) and Minella Indo (Mark Walsh), who occupy different positions on the betting market.

The former ranks top with the bookmakers despite fluffing his only appearance in the Lancashire Chase (Group 1) in November. The ten-year-old finished 15 lengths behind A Plus Tard in last year`s runner-up, but is only among the outsiders after his victory in the New Years` Chase (Group 3) over Sattler (P. Mullins). The latter also took the honours in his latest appearance in the Irish Gold Cup (Group 1) behind Galopin des Champs (Paul Townend), who landed another bigpoint in the Punchestown Chase (Group 1) this season and is seen by many as the new Gold Cup triumphant. Bravemansgame (Harry Cobden) recommended himself for today`s task by winning the King George VI Chase (Group 1) over Royale Pagaille (Charlie Deutsch). Ahoy Senor (Derek Fox) did everything right in the Cotswold Chase (Group 2). He defeated Sounds Russian (Sean Quinlan), Noble Yeats (Sean Bowen) and Protectorate (Harry Skelton), who may fancy their chances of a good placing.