KAUTO STAR and Long Run head 34 entries for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup. Paul Nicholls’ remarkable 12-year-old has twice beaten the defending champion this season in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton.
He is the only horse in history to have regained the Gold Cup crown at Prestbury Park and will be bidding to do so again having finished third behind Long Run last term.
The champion trainer has also entered Poquelin, The Minack, Tidal Bay and What A Friend, who was fourth last season.
Long Run’s trainer Nicky Henderson has surprisingly entered leading two-mile chaser Finian’s Rainbow, along with Burton Port.
As expected, David Pipe’s leading novice chaser Grands Crus has been given an entry alongside stablemate Junior.
Quito De La Roque heads a strong Irish team which also includes Jessies Dream, Magnaminity, RSA Chase winner Bostons Angel, The Midnight Club, Apt Approach, Quel Esprit and China Rock, who was in the process of running a massive race last season when he picked up an injury.
“China Rock is running over hurdles at Punchestown on Saturday and we hope that he can head to Cheltenham once again as he was in the process of running a big race before breaking down in the Gold Cup last year,” said his trainer Mouse Morris.
“He had stem cell treatment, like War Of Attrition received, afterwards and has been back in training quite a while now.
“The ground is important to him as he wants a decent surface. Obviously, every day is a bonus when a horse comes back from a tendon injury like his but he’s going well and the plan is to head to Cheltenham.”
Other familiar names in the entry are Lexus hero Synchronised, dual Ryanair hero Albertas Run, Captain Chris, Mon Mome and Midnight Chase.
“Long Run and Kauto Star currently head the market for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup after their epic tussles in both the Betfair Chase and King George this season,” said Betfred spokesman George Primarolo.
“However, Grands Crus is an extremely interesting entry and punters can now back David Pipe’s novice safe in the knowledge that they will get their money back should the horse take up an alternative entry at the festival.”
BETFRED CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP BETTING: 11-4 Long Run, 4-1 Kauto Star, 8-1 Grands Crus, 10-1 Synchronised, 16-1 Captain Chris, 20-1 Time For Rupert, 25-1 Diamond Harry, Jessies Dream, Quel Esprit, Quito De La Roque, The Minack, Weird Al, 33-1 Albertas Run, Finians Rainbow, 40-1 bar.
