BetVictor Gold Cup 2017 Runner Guide

1. Kylemore Lough (Harry Fry/Noel Fehily) Completed five-timer in Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase at Fairyhouse final start in 2015/16, and proved at least as good as ever first two starts last season, sec-ond in 1965 Chase at Ascot and close-up fifth in December Gold Cup here. Re-turned to form when fourth to Fox Norton in Melling Chase at Aintree final start. Has left Kerry Lee since, but may need rain to be at his best (seven of eight wins on soft or heavy).

Back KYLEMORE LOUGH to win at our betting partners' best price:

2. Le Prezien (Paul Nicholls/Barry Geraghty) Won Grade 2 novice here and graduation event at Exeter (by two and three quarter lengths from L'ami Serge) in 2016/17. Well-backed 5/2 shot and shaped encouragingly when neck second to Foxtail Hill in 2m handicap here last month. Handles any ground (including very testing) and stays 2½m, but best form to date has come over shorter.

Back LE PREZIEN to win at our betting partners' best price:

3. Double Treasure (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) Has taken form to a new level since sent chasing, winning handicaps at Chep-stow in April, and at Newton Abbot and Worcester in September. Completed four-timer in six-runner novice here last time by three and three quarter lengths from Two Taffs, rallying to lead last. Progressive, and respected accordingly, but has to race from a mark 42 lb higher than when winning run started and wouldn't want much rain.

Back DOUBLE TREASURE to win at our betting partners' best price:

4. Viconte du Noyer (Colin Tizzard/Bryan Cooper) Won 25f Grade 3 handicap here (by length from Warrantor) a year ago and shaped as if needing run when seventh to Cogry over similar trip here last month. Stays well but has no problem with this shorter trip should connections plump for this assignment. Has worn tongue tie, including latest start (had been left off for previous five runs).

Back VICONTE DU NOYER to win at our betting partners' best price:

5. Days of Heaven (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville) Useful hurdler who has shown improved form over fences, successful first four starts, including handicaps at Stratford and Uttoxeter (by one and a half lengths from Valseur du Granval) in May. Creditable six and a quarter lengths fourth to Romain de Senam last time, but needs to step forward from that and has shown signs of temperament (edgy sort and has given trouble at start). Handles any ground.

Back DAYS OF HEAVEN to win at our betting partners' best price:

6. Tully East (Alan Fleming, Ireland/Denis O'Regan) Won Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase (by one and a quarter lengths from Gold Present) from 10 lb lower at the Festival in March, and clearly not 100% on the day when pulled up at Punchestown the following month. Had pipe-opener when well-held fourth to Campeador over hurdles at same track last time, not knocked about, and should be a major player here with that run under his belt. Handles any ground.

Back TULLY EAST to win at our betting partners' best price:

7. Foxtail Hill (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Jamie Bargary (3)) Smart handicap chaser who has a good course record, and proved better than ever when winning 15-runner event (2m) from 7 lb lower mark here last month by neck from Le Prezien, well ridden from the front. This much tougher, but stays this longer trip and would be a dangerous rival to underestimate if granted an easy lead.

Back FOXTAIL HILL to win at our betting partners' best price:

8. Theinval (Nicky Henderson/Jeremiah McGrath) Won maiden at Uttoxeter and novice at Plumpton (by two lengths from Theo's Charm) in busy 2016/17 campaign, though best effort of season came when three lengths second to Two Taffs in listed handicap at Ayr in April. Shaped well when 21 lengths fourth to Exitas in listed handicap at Ascot last time, not knocked about. Respected, especially if the rain stays away.

Back THEINVAL to win at our betting partners' best price:

9. Romain de Senam (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) Well-made sort who won on reappearance at Chepstow (by seven lengths from Double Shuffle) in October and followed up after just six-day break in six-runner race at Stratford last time by neck from promising Burtons Well. Up another 6 lb here but clearly on an upward curve over fences and may yet do better still.

Back ROMAIN DE SENAM to win at our betting partners' best price:

10. Starchitect (David Pipe/Tom Scudamore) Highly-tried novice last season who couldn't quite run up to his best against more experienced rivals, including in the Plate at the Festival. Better than ever, however, when winning seven-runner handicap at Stratford last time by three lengths from Cut The Corner, asserting from home turn with a bit in hand. Still looks feasibly treated from just 4 lb higher, though this is a much tougher race.

Back STARCHITECT to win at our betting partners' best price:

11. Ballyalton (Ian Williams/Tom O'Brien) Former Neptune runner-up who sported first-time cheekpieces when winning Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase here in 2015/16, and was off for 569 days before 10 lengths sixth of 15 to Bags Groove over hurdles at Aintree last month (form franked by the winner since). Shaped as if fitter for comeback there, travelling better than most, and looks a major contender back over fences (just 3 lb higher than his Festival win).

Back BALLYALTON to win at our betting partners' best price:

12. Aqua Dude (Evan Williams/Adam Wedge) Useful chaser who made successful return from seven months off when winning nine-runner 2½m maiden at Uttoxeter last time by three lengths from Qualando, scoring in a style that bodes well for the season ahead. Different task here but is a strong traveller and still looks fairly handicapped on pick of last season's form.

Back AQUADUDE to win at our betting partners' best price:

13. Bentelimar (Charlie Longsdon/Johnny Burke) Won novice at Wexford (by 15 lengths from Dicosimo) in June before respecta-ble sixth to Potters Point in 3m Kerry National Handicap Chase at Listowel when last seen in September, though not the most prolific (only one win in last 22 starts). Has since joined Charlie Longsdon. Looks opposable, despite the drop in trip being in his favour.

Back BENTELIMAR to win at our betting partners' best price:

14. Plaisir d'Amour (Venetia Williams/Aidan Coleman) Won 2m handicaps at Wetherby and Newbury and 2½m listed mares novice handicap here (by six lengths from Magic Money) in 2016/17. Ran up to her best when good three and three quarter lengths fifth to Shantou Village in novice handicap at Sandown when last seen in April and not discounted here from light weight with stable starting to hit form.

Back PLAISIR D'AMOUR to win at our betting partners' best price:

15. Guitar Pete (Nicky Richards/Ryan Day (3)) Experienced seven-year-old who produced best effort in this sphere when win-ning six-runner listed event (19f) at Wetherby last time by seven lengths from Sametegal, asserting run-in. Still finding his feet for this yard, this just his sixth start with them, but this is a much tougher assignment. Acts on any ground.

Back GUITAR PETE to win at our betting partners' best price:

16. Splash of Ginge (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Tom Bellamy) Produced useful performance when winning over hurdles at Haydock last De-cember, but form tailed off thereafter. Back over fences and shaped as if need-ing run when 27 lengths fourth to Guitar Pete at Wetherby last time, going with enthusiasm. Showed more zest than when he was last chasing, but probably still best treated with caution.

Back SPLASH OF GINGE to win at our betting partners' best price:

17. Mystifiable (Fergal O'Brien/Miss L M Pinchin (7)) Won handicap at Perth (by two and a half lengths from Special Catch) in late-2016/17. Weakened late after making most when fourth to Romain de Se-nam on reappearance at Chepstow last time, bad mistake three out not helping his cause. Should come on for that run, but not always the strongest of finishers regardless.

Back MYSTIFIABLE to win at our betting partners' best price:

18. Lake Takapuna (Jim Culloty, Ireland/Paddy Brennan) Fairly useful chaser who won 17f handicap at Leopardstown (by one and a half lengths from Dysios) in 2016/17. Possibly needed run on return from six months off when ninth to Riviera Sun in handicap at Galway last time. Stays this far, but looks to have a tough task from out of the weights.

Back LAKE TAKAPUNA to win at our betting partners' best price:

Timeform BetVictor Gold Cup 1-2-3
1. Ballyalton
2. Kylemore Lough
3. Tully East

Timeform Analyst's BetVictor Gold Cup Verdict
BALLYALTON hails from a yard is in great nick at present and is potentially well handicapped having shaped well on his belated reappearance run over hurdles at Aintree 3 weeks ago, so could be the answer. Kylemore Lough must be of interest on his first start for Harry Fry, while Festival-winner Tully East, along with Ditcheat-pair Le Prezien and Romain de Senam, look the pick of the remainder.

Back BALLYALTON to win at our betting partners' best price: