The signature race of the Cheltenham Festival the Timico Gold Cup is once again a vastly wide race with strong entries from both the UK and Ireland.
Although the list of absentees has dealt a blow to the quality, it remains as exciting as ever.
Colin Tizzard may have lost out having pre-race favourite Thistlecrack but he still holds two of the best entries in the race in the form of Native River and Cue Card.
Native River has gone from strength to strength this season winning both the Hennessy and Welsh National. Last time out he ran out a good winner of the Denman chase and remains one of the key players once again. He's never won at Cheltenham, but finished second in the Festival last year and the going should be fine for him.
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Cue Card would prove a popular winner of the Festival's feature race, the veteran eleven-year-old came to the Festival as a big favourite and aimed to complete the illustrious triple crown after victories in the Lancashire Chase and the King George. However when travelling excellently, he unfortunately fell three from home.
He comes back to the Gold Cup once again with a strong chance, after reclaiming the Betfair Chase at Haydock he could only finish second to stable rival Thistlecrack in Kempton's Grade One spectacular. But in a prep for Cheltenham he once again rose to the big occasion, enjoying a 15-length success in the Ascot Chase. This may be his last chance of winning the big one, but Joe Tizzard, son of Colin, would rather be on him than Native River.
Willie Mullins has never won the Gold Cup, and Djakadam hopes to be his maiden win on the third attempt. The eight-year-old has finished second in the last two runnings of the Gold Cup, and connections have made no secret they believe this will be his year. He hasn't been seen since December, when finishing third in the Lexus Chase in Ireland.
Gordon Elliott enjoyed his first taste of Gold Cup glory with Don Cossack last season, and his best chance of reclaiming the prize comes in the form of Outlander. The eight-year-old defeated Djakadam in the Lexus last time out, and similarly hasn't been seen since that victory. He's one to keep an eye on especially if it's been a wet week at Cheltenham.
Elliott may also run Empire Of Dirt who finished second in the Irish Gold Cup last month. The ten-year-old was victorious in the Brown Advisory and Merribelle Stable Plate last season, in what has been his only race across the Irish sea. He will need to step up from that most recent performance at Leopardstown.
Jessica Harrington is vying to become the first women to train the Gold Cup in 12 years with Sizing John. The seven-year-old, who finished second in last year's Arkle, has been in great form this win and most notably picked up the Irish Gold Cup on route to Cheltenham. He is bidding to become the first horse to win the Irish and Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same season for the first time in 21 years.
Local trainer Jonjo O'Neill has two chances in the race with More Of That and Minella Rocco. The latter defeated Native River in the Festival last year but has yet to visit the winner's enclosure in a year. He has failed to finish a race in both of his last two starts.
Meanwhile More Of That is starting to run better after what's been a disappointing campaign. The eight-year-old finished sixth in the Lexus on his penultimate start, and looked to be in the mix before unseating jockey Mark Walsh at the final fence in the Irish edition of this race.
Champagne West looked hugely impressive when last seen in a competitive handicap at Gowran Park last time out. The nine-year-old, who also won a listed contest by a 12 lengths, easily disposed the field and Henry De Bromhead's chance has earnt his place in a higher grade. This is a mighty step up for him, and he's been pulled-up on his last two trips to Cheltenham, but he is improving and may well be dangerous.
Cheltenham based Nigel Twiston-Davies is represented by Bristol De Mai, who failed to build on an impressive Haydock win at Newbury last month. The six-year-old won the Peter Marsh chase by 22 lengths, but could only finish last of three, and just under ten lengths, behind Native River. He'll need to improve an awful lot to turn that form.
Last season's Hennessy winner Smad Place returns to the Gold Cup where he finished sixth in last season. He hasn't been able to build on his impressive season last year finishing seventh on return to the Hennessy, before a long way behind the late Many Clouds and Thistlecrack in the Cotswold Chase on trials day.
I like both of Tizzard's chances and I'd prefer Cue Card who always seems to be shouted about by the Dorset yard. It would make a remarkable story were he to win, and I'll certainly be hoping he does. But my main selection is the improving Sizing John who was an impressive winner of the Irish Gold Cup last time out, and he looks like there's more to come from him. I think Native River won't be too far away, and More Of That can also pick up some place money.
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Selections (Scale of 1-5 Points)
Sizing John 2pts E/W - 9/1 at BetVictor
Cue Card 1pt Win - 4/1 at BetVictor
Words By: James Stevens