15:30 Cheltenham

Friday 18 March 2022

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 6m 41.75s

Al Boum Photo^p1⁷⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 170| CD

6/1

Won this in 2019 and 2020. Creditable third to Minella Indo and A Plus Tard last year. Warmed up in customary fashion with a fourth successive win in Tramore Grade 3 on New Year's Day. Cheekpieces on.

Form: 11/132-1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

A Plus Tard^t⁸⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 172| BF| C| D

3/1

Second to Minella Indo last year. Very impressive when beating Royale Pagaille by 22 lengths on Haydock return. Collared by Galvin at Leopardstown since but yard in better form now. Leading claims.

Form: 3/212-12

Asterion Forlonge^t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164| BF

22/1

High-class handicap performance when winning easily at Punchestown last spring. Set for second behind Tornado Flyer when falling last in King George but only a fair fourth in Irish Gold Cup since.

Form: 331-UF4

Aye Right⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Callum Bewley| T: H Graham & G Rutherford| OR: 158

80/1

Very smart chaser who finally gained a deserved big handicap win in Rehearsal at Newcastle in November. Creditable 5¼ lengths third to Chantry House here latest but this is asking too much of him.

Form: 230-513

Chantry House^p⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 160| BF| C

16/1

Grade 1 novice chase winner here and at Aintree last spring. Ran abysmally when sent off favourite for King George but back on track in cheekpieces (retained) when winning Grade 2 here in January.

Form: 111-1P1

Galvin⁸⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 168| C

10/3

Capped unbeaten novice chase campaign with National Hunt Chase success at 2021 Festival. Has improved again this term, collaring A Plus Tard on line in Savills at Leopardstown in December. Player.

Form: 111-121

Minella Indo⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 174| CD

7/1

Saw off A Plus Tard to win last year. Has yet to really fire this season but he did at least bounce back from an abject display in King George when second in Irish Gold Cup. Very good course record.

Form: F41-3P2

Protektorat^t¹⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 164| C

10/1

Grade 1 winner at Aintree in novice season and built on fine reappearance second in Paddy Power Gold Cup here when easily winning a 25f Grade 2 back at Aintree in December. The unknown quantity.

Form: 1221-21

Royale Pagaille³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 166| D

20/1

Defied a big weight in Peter Marsh at Haydock in January. Good second in Denman at Newbury since but he was a remote sixth in this last year and A Plus Tard slammed him in Betfair.

Form: 116-212

Santini⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Gundry| OR: 153| C

66/1

Close second to Al Boum Photo in this in 2020. Lost his way last term but back on song for new yard when second to Chantry House here last time. Still a surprise if he can do as well as 2 years ago.

Form: 253P-42

Tornado Flyer⁸²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 167

9/1

High-class chaser who ran the race of his life when proving 9 lengths too strong for Clan des Obeaux in King George at Kempton on Boxing Day. Will need another career best to follow up.

Form: 2543-51

Forecasts

A Plus Tard (3/1), Galvin (10/3), Al Boum Photo (6/1), Minella Indo (7/1), Tornado Flyer (9/1), Protektorat (10/1), Chantry House (16/1), Royale Pagaille (20/1), Asterion Forlonge (22/1), Santini (66/1), Aye Right (80/1)

It could be another 1-2 for Henry de Bromhead but in a different order, with A PLUS TARD, who should be in his prime at 8, taken to turn the tables on last year's winner Minella Indo. The latter has yet to really fire this term but he's always saved his best for this meeting (2 wins and a second) and can provide a bigger threat than Galvin, who pipped the selection at Leopardstown over Christmas.