Presents:-
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THE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP
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A Grade 1 Class 1 Championship Chase over 2 Mile 2 Furlongs 70 Yards
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THE RACE
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The Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 Steeplechase.
The Gold Cup is the is the most prestigious steeplechase in the whole calendar and is run for the best steeplechasers over three miles and two and a half furlongs and is the main event of the last day of the Cheltenham festival.
First Run in 1924 as a steeplechase this is the race that all top class chasers are aimed at all season.
The race is open to all horses of the age 5 years and over.
The first race was held on March 12th 1924 and was run over what is now the old course . In 1959 the race changed to the new course over which the race is still run today.
The great steeplechaser Arkle won the race three times in succession in 1964,1965 and 1966. The great Golden miller won the race won the race five times 1932,1933,1934,1935 and 1936. He also won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and The Grand National in the same year in1934.
In 2009 Kauto Star became the first horse to regain The Cheltenham Gold Cup after winning in 2007 not winning in 2008 and winning again in 2009
In 1986 Dawn Run became the only horse to have won The Gold Cup and also The Champion Hurdle which she won in 1984.
2020 Race Conditions For 5yo+ which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Handicapper following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including the day prior to confirmation. Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain, Ireland or France may also be entered. Such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including the day prior to confirmation would merit a minimum rating of 130. The decision of the BHA Handicapper shall be final. Weights 5yo 11st 8lb; 6yo+ 11st 10lb Allowances mares 7lb
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LIST OF RUNNERS
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| Number | Form / Type | Horse | Age | Weight | Trainer | Jockey | |
| 1 | 1r/11-21 • CD • GELDING | Al Boum Photo (FR) | 8 | 11st 10lbs | W. P. Mullins | P. Townend | |
| 2 | 1F34-22 • GELDING | Bristol de Mai (FR) | 9 | 11st 10lbs | Nigel Twiston-Davies | Daryl Jacob | |
| 3 | 215-P11 • GELDING | Chris's Dream (IRE) | 8 | 11st 10lbs | Henry de Bromhead | Aidan Coleman | |
| 4 | 1152-21 • GELDING | Clan des Obeaux (FR) | 8 | 11st 10lbs | Paul Nicholls | Harry Cobden | |
| 5 | 13-1411 • C • GELDING | Delta Work (FR) H T | 7 | 11st 10lbs | Gordon Elliott | Mark Walsh | |
| 6 | 66-236P • GELDING | Elegant Escape (IRE) | 8 | 11st 10lbs | Colin Tizzard | Jonjo O'Neill Jr. | |
| 7 | 1U1-142 • GELDING | Kemboy (FR) | 8 | 11st 10lbs | W. P. Mullins | Mr P. W. Mullins | |
| 8 | 221-11P • C • GELDING | Lostintranslation (IRE) T WS | 8 | 11st 10lbs | Colin Tizzard | Robbie Power | |
| 9 | 214-P32 • GELDING | Monalee (IRE) | 9 | 11st 10lbs | Henry de Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore | |
| 10 | 1/10-353 • C • GELDING | Presenting Percy (GB) T | 9 | 11st 10lbs | Patrick G. Kelly | Davy Russell | |
| 11 | 2-1141P • GELDING | Real Steel (FR) | 7 | 11st 10lbs | W. P. Mullins | Brian Hughes | |
| 12 | 1/132-11 • C • GELDING | Santini (GB) p | 8 | 11st 10lbs | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
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THE 2020 RACE
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Al Boum Photo was a really good winner last year. He later ran at the Punchestown
festival and was beaten into second place but that was probably going back to the
well too soon on the horse. He has run once this season proper in a grade 3 at
Tramore on New years day. He won well as expected. Last years win was no fluke and
he comes here in good form and is perhaps a worthy fav but history is against him as
repeat winners are not common with the last being best mate who won in 2003,2004 & 2005.
Bristol De Mai was a good third last year and looks to improve that today. He went to
Aintree after Cheltenham and ran fine in the Betway Bowl. This season he has been beaten
on two occasions the first in the Betfair chase by Lostintranslation and then in the
Paddy Power by Santini. Both these runs look genuine so it is hard to see why he should
overturn these results with these two runners today, but he is a good horse with plenty of talent.
Chris's Dream ran in the 2018 Albert Bartlet at the festival and finished 9th.
So the looked for course form is not present in this horse. He ran at the Aintree
festival and finished well down the field. He then finished off what was a poor season for him
being pulled up at the Punchaseton festival. In his favour, he has put up two really good
winning runs this season. The first in a handicap and the second in a Grade 2. While this
shows he is in better form this year neither look good enough to win this and a lot of improvement would be needed.
Clan Des Obeaux is a dual King George winner and has lots of class. He could only finish
5th in last years race when well fancied by many.
Last year he had a run between the King George and the Gold Cup and connections feel that
as he seems to run well when fresh he has not had a run since that race back on Boxing Day.
His top-class trainer, Paul Nichols has been quite bullish about his chances this year and
he knows what is need to win this race as he has done so so many times in recent years.
Sure to run well this year and is strongly fancied.
Delta Work is a fine horse who won the Pertemps final two years ago at the festival. Last
year he was 3rd in the RSA, a good stepping stone to this race. He has been in good form
this season culminating in his win t=in the Irish Gold Cup last month. He will have plenty
of support and looks to have a good chance.
Elegant Escape is a good long-distance chaser. One this you need to win this race is to get
the distance of this race. The extra 2 furlongs often catch out good class horses that run
well at 3 miles or 3 miles 1-furlong but of course, the last furlong here is uphill. This will be
no problem to this horse who won the Welsh National over 3miles 5 furlongs in 2018.
He has not really been in the best of form this season but has been improving all the time.
I am not sure that this race will suit him and as he is entered in The Grand national that may
well be his target. As the ground is likely to be testing here today is will fall into his favour,
indeed any further deterioration in the going will help him but I hope this race does not take too
much out of him and rob him of his chance in The Grand National.
Kemboy unseated in last years race and that sort of sums up his chance. He is a good horse but
he needs to improve his jumping as he makes mistakes in races. When he gets it right, however,
he is a classy individual as he showed beating last years winner in the Punchestown festival
last May. Luck in running and a clear round could see him going close.
Lostintranslation is a really good chaser who was the second in the JLT last season. He then
went to the Aintree festival and won the Grade 1 Novice chase there. His first two runs this
season were very good indeed, both wins and the second very well in the Betfair Chase.
He put in a below-par performance in The King George and was pulled up, the trainer later
stated that he had a breathing problem and he has had a wind operation since. This horse
has lots of talent and lots os class and I expect him to perform very well if the wind
operation has cleared the problem we saw at Christmas.
Monalee is a great horse who always runs well but too often finds a few too good in a
race to be really fancied. He is consistent and has class but one feels that he need a
lot to go his way to win the top class race he deserves but this is probably not the day.
Presenting Percy was seen as something of a dream ticket last season. He started favourite
for the race but finished well down the field in 8th position. His runs this season have been
well below last season so he does not come here in great form, however, he is still a talented
individual who if all comes right for him could well be overpriced in the market today, but a
lot needs to be taken on trust and others appeal more today as he has not really shown last years form yet.
Real Steel was 6th in last years JLT and nothing in his form since looks to state that he is
better than that form. That is not good enough to win a Gold Cup unless he improves to show better
form than he has so far in his career.
Santini was only 2nd in last years RSA, and was 3rd in the JLT the year before. He is a horse
with much talent whos is improving and has continued to do so this season. He is unbeaten in two
runs this season, the first in a listed race at Sandown and the final one in the Paddy Power at
this course over almost this distance. He has not been seen since. He was very good that day and
looked to be staying on after making an error at a crucial point two out to come back well and it
looks as if this trip would suit. On that form, I think he looks like he has a great chance.
Selection - Santini NB Lostintranslation.
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THE FULL RESULT
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| Finished | Form / Type | Horse | Age | Weight | Trainer | Jockey | |
| 1 | 1r/11-21 • CD • GELDING | Al Boum Photo (FR) | 8 | 11st 10lbs | W. P. Mullins | P. Townend | |
| 2 | 1/132-11 • C • GELDING | Santini (GB) p | 8 | 11st 10lbs | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville | |
| 3 | 221-11P • C • GELDING | Lostintranslation (IRE) T WS | 8 | 11st 10lbs | Colin Tizzard | Robbie Power | |
| 4 | 214-P32 • GELDING | Monalee (IRE) | 9 | 11st 10lbs | Henry de Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore | |
| 5 | 13-1411 • C • GELDING | Delta Work (FR) H T | 7 | 11st 10lbs | Gordon Elliott | Mark Walsh | |
| 6 | 2-1141P • GELDING | Real Steel (FR) | 7 | 11st 10lbs | W. P. Mullins | Brian Hughes | |
| 7 | 1U1-142 • GELDING | Kemboy (FR) | 8 | 11st 10lbs | W. P. Mullins | Mr P. W. Mullins | |
| 8 | 1152-21 • GELDING | Clan des Obeaux (FR) | 8 | 11st 10lbs | Paul Nicholls | Harry Cobden | |
| 9 | 1F34-22 • GELDING | Bristol de Mai (FR) | 9 | 11st 10lbs | Nigel Twiston-Davies | Daryl Jacob | |
| 10 | 215-P11 • GELDING | Chris's Dream (IRE) | 8 | 11st 10lbs | Henry de Bromhead | Aidan Coleman | |
| 11 | 66-236P • GELDING | Elegant Escape (IRE) | 8 | 11st 10lbs | Colin Tizzard | Jonjo O'Neill Jr. | |
| F | 1/10-353 • C • GELDING | Presenting Percy (GB) T | 9 | 11st 10lbs | Patrick G. Kelly | Davy Russell |
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STEWARDS REPORT
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MONALEE (IRE) wore earplugs which were removed at the start and AL BOUM PHOTO (FR) and KEMBOY (FR) wore earplugs throughout the race.
An enquiry was held to consider interference at the top of the hill on the final circuit when SANTINI,
placed second, ridden by Nico de Boinville, interfered with MONALEE (IRE), placed fourth, ridden by Rachael Blackmore.
de Boinville was suspended for 2 days for careless riding as he had drifted left-handed towards the rail when insufficiently clear of MONALEE (IRE),
resulting in Blackmore having to take a check.
Shortly after jumping the final fence, Nico de Boinville, the rider of SANTINI, placed second, struck MONALEE (IRE), placed fourth, once over the
nose with his whip, but after viewing a recording of the race it was considered to be accidental.
