Many Clouds, a progressive horse in his second season over fences, boasts the ideal profile for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.20) today.
A useful novice last term, he was brought down when travelling well in the RSA Chase here, albeit too far out to know where he would have finished. His earlier form, though, suggests that he would have gone close to winning, as he had finished second, when conceding 4lb, to the RSA winner O’Faolain’s Boy at Ascot.
Many Clouds has made terrific progress this season, winning all three starts. He followed a smooth success in listed company at Carlisle with a comfortable victory in the Hennessy at Newbury, before taking another step forward when giving 8lb and a beating to the useful Smad Place at Cheltenham in January.
He comes here on an upward curve and, while the forecast rain would suit him more than many of his rivals, there is no reason to believe that he cannot be as effective on good ground. At 10-1 with the sponsor, Many Clouds appeals.
Lord Windermere, a narrow winner last year, has to be respected. He struggled on heavy ground in Ireland over the winter, but has won on both previous starts at the Festival, having landed the RSA Chase in 2013.
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He had failed to make the frame in three starts before last year’s victory and, comparatively, arrives here in better form having shaped well when third to Carlingford Lough in the Irish Hennessy at Leopardstown.
Holywell is another who has to be respected. He, too, has a fine Festival record, having won handicaps here for the past two years. He had no problem when stepping up to grade one company at Aintree, beating the useful Don Cossack in fine style, and looked much more like his old self when refitted with blinkers at Kelso last time.
Dual King George winner Silviniaco Conti is back for a third crack at this prize. He looked to be travelling well when falling three out in 2013, but again failed to deliver last year, hanging on the run-in having once more looked likely to win. His best form would make him hard to beat, but he still has questions to answer.
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Willie Mullins can claim yet another winner through Petite Parisienne in the JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.30). Useful on the Flat in France, she showed a good attitude to see off stablemate Kalkir in grade one company at Leopardstown last time.
Mullins saddles five in the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle (2.05) but Minella Present can keep the prize at home. He looked smart in winning his first two starts over hurdles, but has raced too keenly in slowly-run races the past two times. Fitted with a hood for the first time to help him to relax and with this drop in trip in his favour, he can spring a surprise.
Thomas Brown makes plenty of appeal in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (2.40). He stayed on strongly to beat Robinsfirth at this track last time and seems sure to appreciate the extra half-mile of this contest.
Grumeti, who sports blinkers for the first time, rates the best bet of the day in the AP McCoy Grand Annual Chase (5.15). A classy hurdler, he has taken well to fences but was out of his depth in grade one company last time, when both the opposition and half-mile longer trip proved too much for him.
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Alan King, his trainer, reports that the fitting of blinkers at home “seemed to do the trick” and Grumeti is good value at 22-1 with William Hill to exploit a favourable mark.