2009 BOYLESPORTS GOLD CUP LATEST BETTING TIPS

Major excitement happening at Cheltenham this weekend with several very big races kicking off that may have implications for this very same course come mid-March. The focal point of the weekend is the running of the 2009 Boylesports Gold Cup and I anticipate a real corker here, with several jumpers have a clear shot at a victory. There is congestion for the favourites position and I think that this could benefit the punters on the day, as there will likely be some massive price fluctuations come post-time.
The main competition seems to be between Atouchbetweenacara, Chapoturgeon and Poquelin with Razor Royale and the talented Tamarinbleu just nipping at their heels a bit on the exchanges.
Atouchbetweenacara has drawn a significant amount of attention, but this will be the first run out for the bay this season and considering how lightly raced he was throughout 2009, it gives me some serious question marks against horses that have been asked for more and have given more. A victory in a Grade 2 during his only 2009 appearance (in mid-April at Cheltenham) is probably affecting his odds a little more than they should. I think his price will shorten and, at this point, I’m not 100% that he’s going to be worth the lack of value. You’ll find Atouchbetweenacara trading at around 5/1.
Chapoturgeon got it all wrong in the Paddy Power Gold Cup a few weeks back and also had a real slip up in the John Smith’s Manifesto Novices Chase at the Grand National Festival. Barring those two disappointments, he’s had a solid year scoring in the Jewson Novices Handicap and a two-mile handicap at Doncaster. If he gets it right he’s a contender, but he’s got too many falls when it counted so I’m a touch hesitant here.
I have significantly more confidence in Paul Nicholls Poquelin than I do the other two top contenders. He looks a progressive horse that did well in the earlier part of last season and then took a big step up and faltered a bit on the step up to the Graded races with some middling performances. He’s turned that around though and gotten off to a nice start this time around going 1-2 at Cheltenham in both of his runs this season, scoring in the zeturf.com Handicap Chase against a field of 13 and then staying on well to finish 2nd to Tranquil Sea who ran an absolute belter in the Paddy Power. Ruby Walsh was aboard for both trips and I this horse loves Cheltenham and he’s getting better every day. Tranquil Sea is a few steps above Atouchbetweenacara and Chapoturgeon and I think if Poquelin gets the type of trip he needs from Ruby that he may be the one to have your money on. He is a place bet for certain, but I like him for the win, and he has been very well-weighted for this one.
Eoin O’Grady’s got Sky’s the Limit in here and this is a really classy jumper who looks as though his best years are behind him. He’ll need to really roll it back here and rediscover form from 2 years ago if he’s going to have a chance against these up-and-comers. You’ll find him trading at around 10/1 or 12/1. I think he will drift on race day on the board and in the race.
Another one I’ve got my eye on is Tamarinbleu, who spent the latter part of last season matching up against first-class grade 1 jumpers like Voy Por Ustedes, Kauto Star and Snoopy Loopy. He hasn’t won since early 2008 when he bested Twist Magic at Ascot, but considering the talent he was facing off against it really doesn’t serve as a blemish. I don’t think Tamarinbleu is a Grade 1 horse, but this race certainly isn’t beyond him. He had a solid outing in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and just got pipped by the talented Deep Purple who took another Grade 2 on Thursday of this week. He’s trading at around 10/1 and looks a solid bash for an each-way.
My selections are Poquelin and Tamarinbleu for the 2009 Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham on December 12.