2011 Gold Cup winner Long Run and Kauto Star head a field of 34 at the latest entry stage for the 2012 renewal of the Cheltenham Festival showpiece.
Long Run's emergence as a top-class performer was swift last season, putting up stunning performances in both the King George VI Chase at Kempton and the Gold Cup last March, and he heads the market for the Cheltenham showpiece in March at 3.55 with
Betfair.
The seven year-old returned this season with many expecting him to kick on to even greater heights, but has twice tasted defeat at the hands of the resurgent Kauto Star, in the Betfair Chase and the King George.
That fantastic King George success was Kauto Star's fifth, cementing his position as one of the all-time greats of National Hunt racing. He closely follows Long Run in the Gold Cup antepost market, currently trading at 5.2, and on recent evidence the pair look a class apart.
One intriguing entrant in the field is the David Pipe-trained Grands Crus who, in just his first season chasing, is though by his trainer, David Pipe, of mixing it with his more experienced rivals. His three starts over fences to date have yielded three successes and singled him out as an outstanding novice, but he still has the option of the RSA Chase should connections choose that route.
Three horses that are more experienced than Grands Crus, but can still be deemed as "up-and-comers" are Diamond Harry, Weird Al and Time for Rupert. This season, the trio have been looking to bridge the gap between themselves and the top of the chasing tree, with Weird Al performing the best to date in winning the Charlie Hall and finishing third in the Betfair Chase.
Weird Al and Time for Rupert are difficult to split in the market, trading at 32.0 and 30.0 respectively, whilst Diamond Harry is a marginally bigger price at 38.0.
The Philip Hobbs-trained Captain Chris took a sizeable step up in distance to contest the King George and was far from disgraced in finishing third. He is currently trading at 16.0, but would also have the option of reverting to two and a half miles for the Ryanair Chase.
Last season's Welsh National winner Synchronised surprised many when landing the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in December, as he previously hadn't looked up to this sort of level. However, that win has pushed him into the reckoning for the Gold Cup, and he would be capable of playing a part if the principals were to underperform.
The Irish challenge is likely to be headed by Quito de la Roque and Jessies Dream, although the former was disappointing when managing only third in the Lexus. Jessies Dream is yet to makes his seasonal reappearance, although that could be rectified in the Red Mills Chase or the Irish Hennessy, before he heads to the Gold Cup.
The Robbie Hennessy-trained Rubi Light will contest the Ryanair this season, with connections suggesting the Gold Cup will be the target next year, whilst King George fourth Somersby will also contest the Ryanair.
Timeform's Current Gold Cup Ratings (weight adjusted)
193 Long Run
192 Kauto Star
182 Weird Al
179 Poquelin
179 Diamond Harry
