It's Gold Cup Time Again
Kauto Star bids to become the first horse to ever regain his Gold Cup crown having lost it, when he takes on last year's winner Denman this afternoon. Sporting Index are offering a 50-30-20-10 index on the race and Paul Nicholls' triple King George winner is currently pitched at 23-26 points. His buyers will be clinging to the hope that his trainer is right and he really is best 'fresh', while sellers will point to the fact that his stamina is not guaranteed (previous Gold Cup win was in a very slowly run race) and he is almost certainly better going right handed.
However, the most interesting talking point in the race for spread bettors is the well being of Kauto Star's stablemate Denman. He looked a shadow of his former self when running a stinker at Kempton on his reappearance and there will be plenty of sellers at 12 on the index. Yet, his buyers will point out that without Madison Du Berlais (pitched at 9-12 on the index) in that Kempton field, he basically beat all the others by a distance and would now be favourite for the race.
The world's press has descended on Prestbury Park this afternoon in the hope of seeing the Queen's horse Barber Shop win. Nicky Henderson's young star can be bought on the index at 12 and his supporters will be hoping that he can go one better than in last year's Jewsons Novices' Chase at the Festival when he finished second.
Spread betting on the Cheltenham Gold Cup would not be complete without having a go at one of the hundreds of match bets priced up by the traders. For those of you not aware of how one of these works, they really are simple. You just have to decide which of the two horses pitched together will win that specific private duel or two horse race. No horse can win by more than 15 lengths, so you will always know the most you can win or lose when placing the bet.
Now, Kauto Star is expected to finish between 5 and 6 ½ lengths in front of Denman and there looks sure to be plenty of buyers there. However, the match up between Neptunes Collonges and Exotic Dancer is far harder to call. If the ground continues to dry out as the day goes on, sellers of Neptunes Collonges will be more hopeful as the emphasis may shift from stamina to speed. However, buyers of last year's third at 2 ½ lengths will hope that the ground remains tacky. Barbers Shop is predicted to finish 1 ½ lengths in front of Madison Du Berlais at the line, while Albertas Run is forecasted to be around 2 lengths up on Air Force One.
Sporting Index are also making predictions on where each horse will finish in the race and reckon that Kauto Star will finish between 3rd and 4th (3.5-4). Neptunes Collonges is penciled in for 5th place (5-5.5) while Her Majesty's Barber Shop is expected to come home no better that 6th (6-6.5).
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