Free racing betting tips: Simon Holt previews Gold Cup day at the Cheltenham Festival
Spiritofthegames features among Simon Holt's four best bets for Cheltenham Gold Cup day at the Festival.
THIS year's Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup has had an open look all season, but the one potential star in the field is probably MIGHT BITE.
Few will forget the son of Scorpion's performance at last year's Festival where, with the RSA Chase at his mercy, he suddenly veered across the course only to quickly re-gather his momentum (possibly helped by the presence of a loose horse) to collar stable-companion Whisper.
Raced just twice this season, Might Bite was widely expected to win the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day after what would have been a stunning performance at the meeting 12 months earlier but for falling at the final fence.
As it turned out, his victory just under three months ago was more workmanlike than might have been expected, though he looked the winner some way from home and was probably idling in front.
The form of that race is a little questionable with runner-up Double Shuffle appearing to make abnormal improvement, but Might Bite was almost certainly value for a good deal more than his length winning margin.
I don't think there is much questioning this horse's talent, but his quirkiness and ability to handle really soft ground certainly raise doubts.
However, but for that Kempton fall in December, 2016, Might Bite would be unbeaten in his last six starts, a sequence that none of his rivals come close to matching.
If the selection, for whatever reason, fails to show his best form then there are various possible winners.
Given that last year's Gold Cup was run on good ground, Native River's gallant third behind the now absent Sizing John and the re-opposing Minella Rocco (very patchy form since) was a very game effort considering he is essentially a softer-going stayer.
Colin Tizzard's gelding should be a fresher horse this year having made a belated winning reappearance at Newbury (jumped well) last month whereas last year his route to Cheltenham included wins in the Hennessy and Welsh Grand National.
Such an admirable horse, Native River seems bound to be thereabouts again.
While the Irish chasers are hard to separate, Road To Respect, a winner at this meeting 12 months ago, has maintained his progress this season while Our Duke, impressive winner of last year's Irish Grand National, could be on his way back after suffering a back problem before Christmas.
Killultagh Vic was in front when falling at the last in the Irish Gold Cup and is another possibility, albeit having only his fourth run over fences here, while Edwulf could well be under-estimated after his shock victory in that race at Leopardstown.
Another improving horse is Definitly Red, the winner of his last two starts including when giving 4lb and an eight length beating to the recently supplemented American in the Cotswold Chase here in January on heavy ground and, if the race turns into a slog, Brian Ellison's genuine chaser could have a big chance.
All in all though, the obvious talent of Might Bite stands out from the crowd. To back him comes with risks attached but, if everything falls into place, he could just wing round and display a class edge.
The Gold Cup selection’s trainer Nicky Henderson, who saddles long time favourite Apple’s Shakira in the opening JCB Triumph Hurdle, could have an excellent day with SANTINI fancied to beat stable companion Chef Des Obeaux in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle while Diese Des Bieffes looks sure to go well later on.
Santini, a really gorgeous specimen, dug deep to wear down Wednesday’s Ballymore Novices runner-up Black Op over two-and-a-half miles here last time and it’s hard to believe he won’t relish this step up to three miles.
A horse for the future, this is a mightily competitive race but, for me, there is something very appealing about him.
In the Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle, SPIRITOFTHEGAMES could be well suited by the likely strong gallop over a stiff two miles.
Dan Skelton's useful gelding was staying on well in third behind Supreme Novices' runner-up Kalashnikov and the re-opposing Bleu Et Rouge in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last month but could have got more competitive had the early pace been quicker.
A good second to William Henry in the Lanzarote at Kempton (2m5f) previously, form that still looked strong after Wednesday's Coral Cup in which the fourth Topofthegame finished second and the winner finished fourth, Spiritofthegames looks sure to see this out well and can reward each-way interest.
That Lanzarote form is also represented by DIESE DES BIEFFES, fifth at Kempton, in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle.
James Bowen’s mount could never quite summon the pace to challenge the leaders that day but should make a bold bid here with greater emphasis on stamina under his talented young rider.
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