Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting Taking Shape The Cheltenham Gold Cup is one of the most prestigious horse racing events in the world. And now that it’s only a few weeks away the anticipation is building as to which horse will land the coveted prize on Friday the 15th March. Last year’s first two home, Native River and Might Bite are yet to hit top form this season while the previous year’s impressive winner Sizing John hasn’t raced since December 2017. However, that doesn’t mean they’re out of contention and their connections are still hopeful of lifting the crown in a little over six weeks’ time. Read on to know who the favorites are for the 2019 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Presenting Percy Presenting Percy is at the top of the betting with his odds shortening to 3/1 following his seasonal reappearance over hurdles at Gowran Park last week. The Likeable eight-year-old produced a fine performance to beat a decent field of hurdlers at Gowran but remains relatively inexperienced over fences with only five runs over the larger obstacles. He is, however, full of potential having won the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase by seven lengths at the Festival last year and was also successful in the Cotswolds the previous year when landing the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle so his ability to handle Cheltenham’s biggest days is not in doubt. Native River Native River, the horse who reigned supreme last year, has been beaten on his two efforts so far this season but remains a very likely winner again in March particularly so if the ground comes up soft. The reigning Champion certainly has the big race form in the book having finished a creditable third in the race in 2017 and his current odds of 5/1 will shorten considerably if there is rain in Gloucestershire over the coming weeks. Clan Des Obeaux, Thistlecrack & Kemboy These three horses are lurking behind the favourites in the betting at odds of 8/1 and better and decent cases can be made for each on the basis of their recent form. Clan Des Obeaux shot to prominence with his smooth travelling victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park in December. He had both Thistlecrack and Native River behind that day and as only a seven-year-old he could well have further improvement to come. He will face a very different test at Cheltenham to the one he encountered at Kempton. Cheltenham is a much stiffer track and the Gold Cup is over a quarter of a mile further in distance than the King George. Thistlecrack has 1 ½ lengths to find with Clan Des Obeaux from Kempton but was ahead of that rival when they ran in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November despite jumping poorly. Thistlecrack hasn’t raced at the Cheltenham Festival since winning the 2016 Stayers’ Hurdle but has sound each-way credentials and looks a little over-priced at current odds of 14/1. Kemboy is the second Irish trained contender after Presenting Percy and like Clan Des Obeaux is only a mere seven-year-old. Representing Irish Champion Trainer Willie Mullins Kemboy has a real chance of providing the all-conquering Closutton man with his first Gold Cup. Kemboy demolished a strong field in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and a reproduction of that form in March would make his current odds of around 8/1 look generous. There is however a slight doubt about the value of the Leopardstown form as there was no pace in the early part of the race and Kemboy has been well beaten on his two previous trips to the Cheltenham Festival. The above five mentioned horses are currently the most likely to lift the coveted blue riband of National Hunt racing but much can change over the coming weeks. If you want to get more information on betting on those potential champs and the Cheltenham Festival in general visit this website. The Cheltenham Festival begins on Tuesday 12th March with the Gold Cup taking place on the final day of the Festival on Friday 15th March.
