Cheltenham Gold Cup Latest News
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is fast approaching, and the jockeys and trainers are getting primed for the 4 day horse racing extravaganza. The Festival kicks off on Tuesday 15th March, with the Gold Cup itself going off at 15.30pm on Friday 18th March. As ever with Cheltenham, the trainers are being tight lipped in the run up to the big race, with rumours abounding over which horses will be lining up come the off.
The latest predictions see a field including Willie Mullins duo Djakadam and Vautour, Colin Tizzard’s King George VI Chase winning Cue Card and the highly impressive Don Cossack. These horses will be amongst the favourites for the Gold Cup, but picking a winner from them is a tough task. Last year’s Gold Cup winner Coneygree is now effectively ruled out of the race through injury, so that opens the door for a new name to adorn the famous trophy.
In truth, all the star horses have questions hanging over them before the Gold Cup. Djakadam – last year’s runner up – was seen as a leading contender for 2016 glory, until he recently fell at an Irish meeting. The Gold Cup is famously gruelling, so any weakness in the jumps will be punished by what is a strong field. Djakadam’s stable mate Vautour was also highly fancied for Gold Cup success, but he seemed to run out of steam in the King George VI Chase, and although he finished an admirable 2nd in a photo finish, questions remain over his stamina. Then there is Cue Card a wonderful enigma of a horse, who everyone seems to rule out only for him to bounce back again. He showed in 2015 that he still has the X-Factor and could mark 2016 with Gold Cup success.
If you have followed Cheltenham in recent years, you will know that one man has had an iron grip upon the Festival – Mr Willie Mullins. The Irish trainer has had incredible success over the last few years, winning top trainer 3 years in a row. Last year Mullins trained 8 winners, which represents nearly a third of all the races. For all his success – and there has been a lot – Willie Mullins has never won the Gold Cup, and that is a bit like saying Usain Bolt has never won Olympic Gold in 100m. In Vautour and Djakadam he has 2 brilliant chances – will 2016 be his year?
Of course, there is more to the Cheltenham Festival than the Gold Cup and, indeed, more to the final day than the Gold Cup race. The last day of the festival will feature some stellar races - including the Triumph Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle - as well as the awards for top jockey and top trainer. Mullins and star jockey Ruby Walsh have won these accolades over the last few years, and it would be difficult to bet against them both doing it again.
Not since the days of
Kauto Star has there been an overwhelming favourite for the Gold Cup, but the mystery will only add to the drama as we build up to the final day of the Festival. Gold Cup Day is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the year in horse racing, and if you’re like a lot of people, you will want to take part in
Gold Cup betting on the finest 2016 Cheltenham horses . Millions of pounds will be bet on some amazing horses, brave jockeys and shrewd trainers – this is the pinnacle of horse racing and it is only days away, so follow the events closely and look for a Festival star.
