Cheltenham Pageant: Key Gold Cup contenders analysed by Sky Sports activities Racing skilled Mick Fitzgerald

Former jockey and Sky Sports activities Racing presenter Mick Fitzgerald has solid his skilled eye over 5 of the important thing contenders for the Cheltenham Pageant Gold Cup.

Henry De Bromhead skilled the primary two dwelling in final season’s race, with Minella Indo and Jack Kennedy defeating A Plus Tard and Rachael Blackmore, with two-time winner Al Boum Picture again in third.

Different fascinating contenders embody latest Grade One winner and Cheltenham specialist Galvin, with the very best English hope trying to be Dan Skelton’s Protektorat. Sky Sports activities Racing skilled and former jockey Mick Fitzgerald casts his eye over the main contenders.

Al Boum Picture

I feel we actually have to incorporate Al Boum Picture in any evaluation of the Gold Cup for the straightforward motive he’s a two-time winner of the race. It is laborious to get away from a horse that has two T-shirts that say “Gold Cup winner” and Paul Townend did not really feel it went to plan final yr when he completed third to Minella Indo.

He appeared each bit nearly as good when profitable the Savills Chase at Tramore for a fourth yr working on New 12 months’s Day and you’ll’t ignore him.

They had been going to run him extra however they have not and Willie has in all probability thought ‘now we have received it twice after profitable at Tramore on New 12 months’s Day so why change it’.

Willie has no friends in relation to making ready a horse for a Pageant and he can have him spot on for the massive day.

Strengths – He is a two-time Gold Cup winner.

Weak spot – Did he have any apparent excuse for ending third final yr?

A Plus Tard

I assumed when A Plus Tard ran within the Ryanair two years in the past that he was a certainty – I simply could not see him being beat. He completed third to Min, overwhelmed a length-and-a-half, and I can not inform you how disappointing that was. Final season we noticed him upped in journey and he appeared totally different class over three miles.

He got here from a good distance again to win the Savills Chase, beating Kemboy in a really hard-fought end, after which he did not run till the Gold Cup the place he was outpointed by his stablemate Minella Indo, and overwhelmed a length-and-a-quarter. This season he got here out and was so spectacular within the Betfair Chase on respectable floor, and that’s the greatest I’ve seen him soar.

He appeared so good that day and was then overwhelmed by Galvin within the Savills Chase in December, and there was clearly no shame on that event.

Once more, he has profitable type on the Pageant having received the Listed Shut Brothers Novice Handicap Chase over two-and-a-half, been positioned in a Ryanair and completed second in a Gold Cup. He’s ticking all of the packing containers.

Strengths – He appeared so good within the Betfair and has confirmed Cheltenham Pageant type.

Weak spot – He had no excuses when ending second within the Gold Cup final yr.

Galvin

Followers of this column will know that I’ve a desire for horses which have profitable type on the Pageant and this fellow has received it. Galvin received the Nationwide Hunt Chase final yr and he stays very well.

He was a length-and-a-half winner from Subsequent Vacation spot over three miles and 6 furlongs and it’s important to keep in mind that Native River was positioned within the Nationwide Hunt Chase and went on and received a Gold Cup. Galvin has already received that race and has been positioned at one other Pageant when ending second to Imperial Aura in a Listed handicap chase, so he handles the monitor.

The truth that he has been to the Pageant a number of instances and left with a win and a second place beneath his belt has to bode effectively for his probabilities. When you have a look at his runs this season, they’ve resulted in a Grade One victory within the Savills Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas the place he beat the likes of A Plus Tard, Kemboy and Janidil, and they’re all Grade One winners.

I do know he solely received by a brief head from A Plus Tard, however he’s going to remain and that may be a very important weapon in his armoury.

Strengths – Cheltenham Pageant type.

Weak spot – You might be struggling to search out one and it might be that he’s simply not an attractive horse.

Minella Indo

“I sound like a damaged file, however it’s that very same outdated factor that Minella Indo has profitable type on the Pageant and received the Gold Cup final yr when beating A Plus Tard a size and 1 / 4. Whenever you have a look at this lad’s Pageant type, it’s arguably higher than something within the race.

He has received a Gold Cup, received an Albert Bartlett and was second in an RSA when, if he hadn’t made a mistake on the second final, he would have received – I’ve little question about that. However for that mistake he would have been a three-time Pageant winner and a few horses increase their recreation for the assembly and he’s clearly a kind of.

He confirmed a return to type when second within the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown this month when ending behind Conflated and there’s no getting away from it that Henry de Bromhead’s horse have not been the identical type as they had been final season.

Final yr Henry had the primary and second within the Gold Cup, received the Champion Chase with Put The Kettle On and received the Champion Hurdle with Honeysuckle and nobody has ever finished that – the horses had been again to type at precisely the suitable time. Henry has a implausible Pageant file and if Minella Indo involves the Pageant in the same temper he’ll make all of them assume.

Strengths – He has very sturdy Pageant type.

Weak spot – His type this season is not as much as scratch.

Protektorat

I really feel now we have to incorporate Protektorat in our evaluation as his solely run in-and-around three miles is arguably probably the most spectacular he has been. He beat Native River and Sam Brown at Aintree, who’re out and out stayers, however the truth that he was capable of beat them at their very own recreation, the staying recreation, confirmed that he possesses that contact of sophistication.

Individuals would possibly say does he save his greatest type for Liverpool however the one means we’re going to discover that out is when he runs within the Gold Cup. You possibly can’t assist being impressed at his Aintree win, his first time over the journey within the Many Clouds Chase and there was lots to love about that efficiency.

He has to enter calculations on that effort however you simply do not know the way he’s going to deal with the Gold Cup take a look at on totally different floor however he has tempo. The one factor I all the time discovered using round Cheltenham was that if they’re gradual horses and also you run them within the Gold Cup, they battle as they go a unique tempo however a horse like him will journey and that may make life an entire lot simpler for Harry Skelton.

He goes there a contemporary horse and has proven he acts effectively on the course prior to now.

Strengths – He’s one from one over three miles plus.

Weak spot – You simply do not know the way he’s going to deal with the strain cooker that’s the Gold Cup.