Two against the field in the County

JP McManus has won this race 3 times since the turn of the century and was responsible for the runner-up in 2009, 2011 and 2015. He’s mob-handed this year and while it’s easy to make a case for Zenta, RISK BELLE finished in front of both Telmesomethinggirl and Hispanic Moon (2nd and 3rd in the Mares’ on Tuesday) in a grade 3 in December and is available at more than double the price of her more-fancied stablemate. Indeed, that was a terrific effort attempting giving weight away to her more experienced rivals and she caught the eye again under a quiet ride last time. A grade 3 winner herself earlier in the season, her form ties in quite closely with Zenta’s, but crucially is in receipt of 8lbs here.

Tips

Risk Belle
1pt EW @ 25/1 | bet365 (6 Places, 1/5 Odds)

Gerri to close the gap on Galopin in Gold Cup

Galopin Des Champs was an outstanding winner of the Gold Cup last year and is a worthy favourite on the evidence of his two Grade 1 wins at Leopardstown over Christmas. He could easily become the forth dual winner this century, but this year’s Gold Cup looks a deeper renewal and he has had a slightly different prep, taking in an extra race after running in the Irish Gold Cup following his 23-length romp in the Savills.

Much has been made of his two defeats at the hands of Fastorslow, but those defeats came on his final start of last season — when he was possibly still feeling the effects of his Gold Cup exploits — and over an inadequate trip on his seasonal return in the John Durkan. In any case, Fastorslow was put firmly in his place in the Irish Gold Cup and it’s interesting that he’s had a wind-op since, with connections seemingly aware of the gap they need to bridge here.

GERRI COLOMBE was unsuited by a slowly-run race in the Savills and I like the fact he’s been kept fresh for this since. Prior to that he had won four Grade 1 races in his last five runs, finishing a short-head second in the other — the Brown Advisory at last year’s Festival — where he only just failed to reel in The Real Whacker on the sharper old course over 3m. The combination of a strongly-run race, soft ground and the extra yardage here will all play to his strengths and I honestly cannot see him finishing out of the frame.

This has all the makings of being an attritional Gold Cup — with L’Homme Presse, The Real Whacker and Jungle Boogie all likely to want to force the issue — so I also have to give a mention to my ante-post pick Corach Rambler, who I backed ante-post and could have the race set up for him. While he wouldn’t have the class of a typical Gold Cup winner, the form of last year’s Ultima win surely gives him a solid chance of hitting the frame and I can see him being ridden in a similar style to 2012 Gold Cup winner Synchronised. He was in receipt of 4lbs from Fastorslow that day, but looked to win with plenty up his sleeve and followed-up in the Grand National next time doing handsprings.

Tips

Gerri Colombe
1pt EW @ 8/1 | bet365 (4 Places, 1/5 Odds)

Elliott to sign off with a winner in the Martin Pipe

BETTER DAYS AHEAD wasn’t beaten far by Supreme winner Slade Steel off level weights in a grade 2 in December and lost nothing in defeat last time, attempting to give 15lbs to subsequent Supreme 4th Asian Master over an inadequate trip. That is by far the strongest form on offer here and with just the 4 runs under his belt could prove to be a lot better than a mark of 140. He’s 1 of 7 runners in the race for Gordon Elliott, who was late with his jockey bookings at the final declaration stage, but not with this horse. Danny Gilligan was clearly earmarked for the ride early doors and that could prove to be a significant pointer.

What’s Up Darling is also interesting now upped in trip in race that Gigginstown clearly like to target. A confirmed mud-lover, he was unable to concede 7lbs to the race-fit Answer To Kayf on hurdling debut, but is weighted to reverse that form here and drops in class having been running in graded races since.

It’s also hard to write off Ocastle Des Mottes, who flopped in the Betfair Hurdle on debut for Willie Mullins, but had to be reshod at the start and looked badly in need of the run after briefly looking a threat 3 out. He beat a subsequent grade 1 winner in France and, while that form can’t be taken literally, connections are clearly keen to take advantage of a loophole that means he can run off 6lbs lower than the mark of 139 he was allotted by the Irish handicapper.

Tips

Better Days Ahead
1pt EW @ 10/1 | Coral (5 Places, 1/5 Odds)