Gold Cup Favourite Now Long Run 4/1

Long Run is now the joint favourite for the Gold Cup with StanJames, who now expect the young Nicky Henderson chaser to go off favourite for the race.

“All the money today has been for Long Run,” said StanJames spokesman Garry McGibbon. “For some reason punters are leaving Imperial Commander well alone today, which we find a bit strange as he’s been trained specifically for this race and did nothing wrong when winning this contest last year.

“Not only that, Imperial Commander is a six-time winner round Cheltenham. He loves it here.”

In other Gold Cup market news, Kauto Star and Denman are friendless with StanJames.com. Both horses have been pushed out to 8/1 from 13/2 with punters clearly believing that their glory days are well behind them.

Cheltenham Gold Cup (place terms: 1/4 the first 3)
————————————————-
4    Imperial Commander
4    Long Run
7    Kempes
8    Kauto Star
17-2    Denman
11    Midnight Chase
11    Pandorama
20    Tidal Bay
25    Weird Al
33    China Rock
33    Neptune Collonges
33    What A Friend
80    Carruthers
NR    Albertas Run

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5	Imperial Commander	9/2
Reigning champion who beat Denman and Kauto Star last year. He has only had one run this season having been laid out all year for this. Paddy Brennan will know exactly how to ride him and though not as good as Kauto Star at his peak he is worthy favourite. Will take a good one to beat him.
8	Long Run	5/1
the progressive young horse in the field. Won the King George in very good style at Kempton last time and will be ridden by the owners son. Many punters would rather see a professional jockey take the ride, but there was no problem last time and he showed himself to be a very capable rider. A very strong claim who may serve it up to Imperial Call. Very strong winning chance.
6	Kauto Star	15/2
Where do we start. Dual Gold Cup winner and the best chaser of his generation. He is 11 years old now and hasn’t looked the horse he was. Well beaten in the King George, a race he has owned in recent years, but connections say he had an infection that day. Sadly it will take a big effort to win this one and his price may be a bit short given his chances.
4	Denman	8/1
former Gold Cup winner, second to Imperial Commander, the Tank as he is called is now 11 years old. Paul Nicholls though says he has a good chance and this is really his last big chance of regaining the Gold Cup. Sam Thomas gets on well with Denman who we last saw giving lumps of weight in the Hennessey Gold Cup, finishing a creditable third. I think he has a good chance if fully fit. He is certainly fresh.
7	Kempes	9/1
Ap McCoy takes the ride. Willie Mullins has had a good festival with Hurricane Fly and Quevega winning on Tuesday. Won the Irish Hennessey last time out and has each-way claims here. McCoy rides for his retained owner JP McManus who cruely missed out on seeing Binocular defend his Champion Hurdle title. Realistic place claims.
9	Midnight Chase	14/1
has the heart of a lion and we may not have yet seen the best of him. Cleary goes well at Cheltenham and at a big price this is many people’s idea of a very good each way bet at a big price. It would be a big win for the stable, a young trainer very much on the up.
11	Pandorama	14/1
9 wins for 11 starts is a good return. A talented horse who has had a few problems of late but showed he was back to fitness at Leopardstown last time out and with Paul Carberry aboard he is in safe hands. Again a very lively outsider with strong place claims.
12	Tidal Bay	22/1
Former Festival winner who has the talent but may just be a bit below the class required to win the Gold Cup. Northern raider trained by Howard Johnson who certainly knows what it takes to win at the Cheltenham Festival.
13	Wierd Al	25/1
difficult to see this one win. Rated 152, though he has won plenty of races he was found wanting when stepped up in class last time in the Hennessey, well beaten by Denman and is on far worse terms today. No chance.
10	Neptune Collonges	33/1
a great who has some very solid form, including a third behind Denman and Kauto Star in this race. Robert Thornton takes the ride but it has to be said that his big price is a fair representation of his chances and it would take a leap of faith even to back him each way.
3	China Rock	33/1
Mouse Morris trains, an Irish raider who is a lively outsider. An each-way outsider at a big price but he is not guaranteed to get the trip. He is a good jumper but stamina is the worry for China Rock backers.
14	What A Friend	39/1
Paul Nicholls trains, certainly the third string, but does have outside claims. Second in the Aon Chase last time he is not out of it, but his price represents his chances.
2	Carruthers	80/1
another outsider who is campaigned in all the big races and talked about fondly by the pundits, given his connections. But from a betting point of view this is one, that on all known form, really has no chance. Would be an upset the size of Norton’s Coin if this one was to win. Rated only 146, the lowest in the field. Shouldn’t be in this field in truth.

Gold Cup Favourite Now Long Run 4/1

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Latest Cheltenham Tips 2012

Cheltenham Gold Cup Day Tips 2011 Day 4

Cheltenham Gold Cup Odds 2011 – Best Odds

Imperial Commander

9/2

Long Run

5/1

Kauto Star

15/2

Denman

8/1

Kempes

9/1

Midnight Chase

14/1

Pandorama

14/1

Tidal Bay

22/1

Wierd Al

25/1

Neptune Collonges

33/1

China Rock

33/1

What A Friend

39/1

Carruthers

80/1