View from connections and Man On Spot verdict for BetVictor Gold Cup
Get the view from connections and Man On The Spot verdict ahead of Saturday's BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Matt Morgan, owner Rather Be: "As Nicky (Henderson) has already stated earlier this week, he comes into the race in good form after turning a corner a couple of weeks ago. Jerry (McGrath) has schooled him a couple of times and rode him in his last piece of work and he was delighted with him. It's obviously ultra competitive, but he'll love the ground and we know he goes well fresh having suffered only one defeat after a break in a bumper against a good horse of Charlie's (Longsdon, Snow Leopardess). I fear them all, especially Baron Alco and Mister Whitaker, who I think will become graded class in time - I just hope that we do too!"
Jack Channon - Mister Whitaker: "He has been so economical at his fences, he won't put in a big stride and have a big lunge at it - he just gets up and over with no fuss. I think he just saves so much energy at his fences and he just gives so much at the finish. He has been a revelation for us. Last year he went right up in the handicap and he has gone up even further and he never fails to deliver. We were chuffed (with Carlisle). He is a horse that can run quite fresh first time and we had him about 90 per cent fit. If he is to go on and be a real top horse, he should be able to defy that penalty, but he has got to take on Rather Be again."
Gary Moore - Banatar and Baron Alco: "They are both in good form at home. Benatar came out of his first run of the season well. He pulled hard that day and was too fresh. He is a talented horse and I have been happy with him since. Baron Alco ran really well at Chepstow when narrowly beaten on his return and we have been pleased with his work, too."
Neil Mulholland - Kalondra and Shantou Village: "Kalondra travels well and jumps well. A race like this you would think would play to his strengths. On his Irish run, you'd have to be happy with his rating (148). On his run the time before that when he finished third, if we could plan the race again I'm sure we'd have done a few things different, but that's the way it is."
"To be fair to Shantou Village his run in the Kerry National was very good, he won a nice race in Worcester the time before. He's definitely on the verge of running a big race in a race like this."
Emma Lavelle - Javert:. "He likes nice ground and going left-handed. Looking at the forecast at Cheltenham, the ground should be perfect for him. He ran really well in the Old Roan at Aintree, where the ground was probably quick enough. He travelled so well there and didn't seem to be weary and it was a lovely run."
Nigel Twiston-Davies - Splash Of Ginge and Ballyandy: "Ballyandy was a bit disappointing at Wetherby, as he didn't jump very well, but he has schooled since and that went well. I am hoping he will run a good race. Splash Of Ginge ran a nice race over hurdles last week. He obviously won this race last year, but he will need all the rain we can get."
Man On The Spot verdict:
Movewiththetimes ran four times on this track last season with his best run coming when runner-up to Finian's Oscar on this card. He looks the type to make progress this campaign as does his stable companion Frodon, already a ten-times winner despite being only six and impressive in a Grade 2 at Aintree last month. Runner-up in the latter event, JAVERT, was having only his second start since May 2016 having won at Uttoxeter a month earlier and this stiffer track will play to his strengths. He gets the nod at a working man's price in an ultra-competitive event. Splash of Ginge won this last year before an excellent second place in a Grade 3 at the Festival in March and a recent run over hurdles will have put him spot-on.
Rather Be was conceding 6lb to Mister Whitaker when beaten a head in a Listed contest at the Festival. The winner reappeared with a comfortable victory at the same level at Carlisle so has a fitness advantage but Nicky Henderson's charge has a 9lb pull in the weights which should be enough to reverse the form. Baron Alco's second to Road To Respect in a Grade 3 here in March, when King's Socks was behind, puts him right in the picture and he made a very encouraging reappearance at Chepstow. The latter will have been prepared for this by David Pipe, who's stable have a fantastic record in the race. while Kalondra, a winner over slightly further here in December before and excellent third in a Grade 2 on the track in April, was still in touch and going well when falling two out at Galway in August. The very progressive Benatar pulled much too hard on his reappearance at Newton Abbot and he beat Finian's Oscar in an Ascot Grade 2 in December.
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