BetVictor Gold Cup Preview: Meribel can make it Count

The BetVictor Gold Cup – which takes centre stage on the Saturday of Cheltenham’s November meeting – is one of the most competitive handicaps of the season and has been won by some top-class performers in the past, perhaps none more so than the 2010 Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander, who first announced himself on the big stage with a comfortable defeat of Barbers Shop in the 2008 edition of this race.

Imperial Commander’s achievement (and that of his trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies) was arguably even more impressive when you consider he was making his first start for the best part of a year, though recent evidence would suggest horses making their seasonal reappearance on Saturday will be at no disadvantage. Indeed, 10 of the last 19 winners of this race were lining up after more than 100 days off the track.

Other trends that could be worth considering are course form – 14 winners of the race this century had previously won over fences at Cheltenham – and the age of your selection.

Seven-year-olds have been most prolific in the BetVictor Gold Cup since the turn of the century, with Baron Alco becoming the ninth winner from that age group when beating Frodon 12 months ago. By contrast, no horse older than nine has won the race in the same period, which is bad news for the 11-year-old Splash of Ginge, who provided Twiston-Davies with a fourth win in this race in 2017 but will need to defy the weight of history to repeat the feat.

Splash of Ginge also has the distinction of being the highest-priced winner of the race since the turn of the century – he was a 25/1-shot when beating 16 rivals two years ago – while Shooting Light was as short as 9/4 when successful back in 2001, one of five winning favourites since 2000.

The favourite for this year’s renewal is the Colin Tizzard-trained Slate House. He has always been held in high regard by connections and finally put it all together over fences when making a winning return in novice company at the Showcase meeting here last month.

That was his first start since undergoing a wind operation and he could hardly have done it any easier on the day, jumping fluently under a patient ride and having far too much for his rivals in the closing stages. The time of that race suggests a positive view should be taken and he undoubtedly has the potential to build on that.

Procession!

Slate House has bags of talent and bounces back in a big way on his return for @colintizzard and @Robbie_Power_ at @CheltenhamRaces pic.twitter.com/R5SR04I9Vr

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 26, 2019

Saint Calvados also features prominently in the betting having made a winning reappearance here on the same day, when putting up a very smart display to defy top weight in a useful two-mile handicap. Another who seemed to benefit from a breathing operation in the off-season, he looked at least as good as ever on his first start in a handicap for almost two years, seeming to benefit from being ridden with a bit more restraint than is usually the case.

He’s raced only at around two miles in Britain/Ireland, but both his sire and the way he raced on his latest start suggest he’s worth trying over this longer trip.

Others to note include Siruh du Lac and Spiritofthegames, who have already shown their aptitude for this sort of test by finishing first and third, respectively, in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate at the Festival here in March.

Siruh Du Lac wins the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate at @CheltenhamRaces!@LizDKelly joins in the fun! pic.twitter.com/yOMv9gkAXq

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 14, 2019

That was the former’s fourth win from as many starts last season, continuing his relentless progress to get the verdict by three quarters of a length from old rival Janika, who gave the form a boost when winning last week’s Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter. Siruh du Lac will be making his seasonal reappearance here, but the qualities he demonstrated last term – notably an excellent attitude and sound jumping technique – should continue to stand him in good stead in this sort of race, with further improvement a distinct possibility.

Similar comments apply to Spiritofthegames, who was arguably unfortunate to have only one win to show for the smart form he showed in his first season over fences. Dan Skelton’s charge also lines up here without the benefit of a previous run, but that is certainly no negative as far as he is concerned – he has won on reappearance in each of the last three seasons.

The sole Irish contender is the Joseph O’Brien-trained Us And Them, who enjoyed an even more luckless time of things as a novice last season, finishing second on five occasions (including in four Grade 1 events) after winning his maiden at Navan. The six-year-old shaped well after five months off when third behind Snow Falcon in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park last time, and, entitled to strip fitter here, he looks sure to give another good account on handicap debut.

Duc Des Genievres takes the win in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy

It's two wins in two races for @WillieMullinsNH!

Watch the #CheltenhamFestival LIVE on @ITV pic.twitter.com/yJAQUL6Ws7

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 12, 2019

Knocknanuss has form that ties in with a couple of these, finishing three places behind Us And Them when fifth in the Arkle at the Festival here in March, before shaping encouragingly when third behind Saint Calvados here on his return. He looks on a good mark on that evidence and could play a part if curbing his enthusiasm now back up in trip.

The form of last year’s renewal is represented by Guitar Pete (third) and Eamon An Cnoic (fifth), who were two of only six to finish in an eventful contest. Both horses line up here from even higher in the weights, though, which sums up the task that they face to improve their finishing positions.

Splash of Ginge, who was one of those not to complete 12 months ago, has not only his advancing years to contend with but also a poor run of recent results, and Twiston-Davies’ best chance of recording a fifth win in this race looks to rest with Count Meribel.

Count Meribel won two of his four starts in 2018/19, including a novice event at this meeting over C&D, and he proved better than ever after eight months when chasing home Lostintranslation in an intermediate chase at Carlisle last time.

Gold Cup player?

Grade 1 winner Lostintranslation jumps beautifully and doesn't see another rival in a brilliant return at @CarlisleRaces

Results ➡ https://t.co/glajGV55GR pic.twitter.com/1lArTz7tsf

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 3, 2019

There was plenty to like about that effort and he certainly fits the right sort of profile for this race now back in a handicap, a seven-year-old who has course form and arrives on the right sort of mark for this race. Indeed, he sets the standard on weight-adjusted ratings and looks to have been underestimated in the betting at around 14/1.

At even bigger odds, Sky Pirate is also worth a second look for the Jonjo O’Neill yard that has won this race three times since 2006. He already has course form to his name having very much caught the eye when seventh in the Kim Muir at the Festival, simply finding the test too much and leaving the impression he would be seen to much better effect back at this sort of trip.

The six-year-old was in the process of showing as much when falling on his return at Wetherby last month, looking a big threat at the time, and he is one to be interested in from the same mark here, with the prospect of even more to come after only six starts over fences.

Recommendations:

Back Count Meribel at 14/1 in Saturday’s BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham

Back Sky Pirate at 25/1 in Saturday’s BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham