Celestial Gold - can win Gold Cup (Getty Images).

By Simon Holt

Betting Box Tipping Guide

BETTING BOX
FIXED ODDS
	2pts win Celestial Gold (3.15) at 9/2 (Coral).	Progressive and can give Martin Pipe his first Gold Cup at last.
	1pt win Earthmover (4.00) at 8/1 (General).	Goes for anothother win in the race and retains bags of enthusiasm.
	1pt win Akilak (2.00) at 11/2 (Sporting Odds).	Excellent young hurdler with stable flying this week.

The totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup has a very open look now with both Best Mate and Kingscliff late withdrawals from the race.

Beef Or Salmon had an excuse when beaten by Rule Supreme in the Irish Hennessy at Leopardstown as he came back with a respiratory infection.

He has scoped clear in recent days and if he gets back to the form of his Lexus Chase win, when he beat a below-par Best Mate, he has got a big chance.

But this is his third Gold Cup now.

He fell in the first of them and then was fourth last year.

He has always had a huge reputation but on this very big day so far he has just been found wanting.

I loved the way he won the Paddy Power Chase in November and then turned out to win the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

He had a break before running in the Aon Chase and was fresh in the early stages off a slow pace, which would not have suited him.

He was then a bit unlucky when squeezed at the last.

Farmer Jack, who sadly died on the gallops on Wednesday, had boosted that Aon Chase form by winning the Racing Post Chase at Kempton under a big weight.

Strong Flow ran a cracker in the Aon as he travelled well and jumped beautifully.

He is coming back from a serious knee injury and if he won a Gold Cup it would some training performance.

Celestial Gold is a progressive horse though who stays well, acts on the track and Martin Pipe is looking for his first Gold Cup winner - he has surely got to win it at some stage!

I don't know why Kicking King made that bad mistake at the last on the way to winning the King George at Kempton but the most obvious conclusion is that he was running out of steam.

Having said that, I was impressed by the way he picked up again on the run-in to hold off Kingscliff and Azertyuiop.

Kicking King is a lovely horse but it has to be said that most of his form prior to Kempton was at shorter distances.

He has great talent but will he get the trip? I have one or two doubts.

We must also mention Grey Abbey, who is the most wonderful chaser.

Now an 11 year old, he seems to have got better and better and put himself bang in Gold Cup contention by slamming his rivals in the Pillar Chase in January.

You can just see him jumping away out in front and still being there at the third last.

Whether he will quite have the acceleration or is quite good enough to lead them home remains to be seen.

The sentimental vote on the card has to go to Earthmover in the Foxhunters' Chase.

He has won the race twice in the past - six years apart - and he is now 14 years old.

He looked better than ever when winning at Fontwell on his reappearance this season and trainer Paul Nicholls states he has had a much clearer build-up with him this time around.

I also like Akilak in the Triumph Hurdle.

He looks to be a very talented young hurdler.