We've teamed up with Weatherbys to assess the trends ahead of one of the biggest betting races of the autumn - the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
2.25 Cheltenham - BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase
TRENDS
9/10 - Ran in at least one chase at Cheltenham
9/10 - No more than three wins over fences
8/10 - Carried 11st or less
8/10 - Contested a Grade One race
7/10 - Had no more than nine chase starts
7/10 - Ran at Cheltenham Festival as a novice hurdler
BETTRENDS SELECTION: RATHER BE
LAST YEAR’S WINNER: SPLASH OF GINGE
Conditions look ideal for ante-post favourite RATHER BE who ticks just about every box ahead of Saturday's Bet Victor Gold Cup.
A lightly-raced second-season chaser, he ran a blinder when just touched off by Mister Whitaker (much better off at the weights now) at the Festival, having earlier contested a Champion Bumper and then the Martin Pipe when a novice hurdler.
Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old looks to have everything in his favour, including the prevailing ground.
A couple of others scored equally well on the trends, those being Baron Alco and Ballyandy, with preference for the former, who ran a blinder on his recent comeback at Chepstow.
He also boasts a similar profile to several recent winners of this and he was a very smart novice the season before last, when he finished runner-up in the Grade One Scilly Isles and the Plate (off this mark) at the Festival.
Former Champion Bumper winner Ballyandy certainly has the class to go close and is only 2lb higher than when winning the Betfair Hurdle.
If he can brush up his jumping, he could easily outrun his big odds, but it is a big if in a race of this nature.
Bettrends verdict:
1. RATHER BE
2. Baron Alco