The Gold Cup has lost much of it’s lustre this year with the late withdrawals of triple champion Best Mate, new favourite Kingscliffe and the recently deceased Farmer Jack. So the race shouldn’t take as much winning as it usually does.
I think the time has come for Beef Or Salmon to prove himself a top class horse. He seems to have two ways of running but he has plenty of good days and that entitles him to the vote here. I believe that his biggest danger will be the King George winner Kicking King. However, Beef Or Salmon seems to have the greater stamina and that should decide the issue. Strong Flow looks the best of the home team along with Celestial Gold and Grey Abbey. The latter may not make the race due to a leg problem and could well be retired before the race. If he does run I really hope he does himself justice.
The traditional curtain opener on Gold Cup day is the Triumph Hurdle for 4 year old hurdlers. Alan King is very sweet on Penzance indeed telling anyone who would listen to back him at 33/1 for this race. As he is now 7/1 that proved very sound advice indeed. Akilak created a most favourable impression when storming away with a race here recently and he will be vying for favouritism, and Paul Nicholls rates his Cerium as the best juvenile hurdler he has trained. Keep an eye on the Irish trained Strangely Brown who will be suited by the very fast pace that this race will be run at. However, Faasel is my idea of the winner. He won his first three races before going under by a head to the older Mephisto at Kelso and he can regain the winning thread here.
Sleeping Knight looks to have an outstanding chance in the hunter chase at 4.00 but he has proved fragile in the past and I prefer to stay with his sablemate and twice winner of this race including last year, Earthmover. He is getting a bit long in the tooth but he is in excellent form and should be right there at the finish. The Irish usually have a strong hand here and Lord Of The Turf looks their best chance here.
SELECTIONS
CHELT 2.00 FAASEL
CHELT 2.35 BREWSTER
CHELT 3.15 BEEF OR SALMON
CHELT 4.00 EARTHMOVER
CHELT 4.40 L’ANGE AU CIEL
CHELT 5.20 CROSSBOW CREEK