Captain Chris Set for Gold Cup

Last year's Arkle winner Captain Chris has finally been given the go-ahead from connections to have a proper effort at the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup. The rapidly-approaching race should see the King George-placed gelding face off against the other two who finished ahead of him on the day back in December. Kauto Star and Long Run both remain very much in the mix for this widely-anticipated contest.

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There had been options open for Captain Chris to run in the Ryanair Chase as well if he was looking for softer competition but it appears as though the Gold Cup is the penultimate destination for the Philip Hobbs-trained up-and-comer.

Speaking to At The Races, Hobbs declared “it is very likely he will go for the Gold Cup, possibly the Ryanair, we have considered all options, including going to Punchestown, but there is no two and a half mile race, just two miles or three miles.”

As it currently stands, you'll find Captain Chris floating as high as 33/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He has won over the course twice, finishes second once and was ultimately pulled up in the Argento Chase last time out. A race that Hobbs called “a disaster”.

Connections pointed to Captain Chris tendency to jump to the right as one of the key complications from the previous contest.

It remains to be scene whether he genuinely wants to go 3m1f with many National Hunt observers declaring Captain Chris more of a 2m5f or 2m4f type of contender. Long Run has seen his price lengthen to around 2/1 from the 5/4 he'd been trading at since he won the Gold Cup last year. Kauto Star continues to take money with 7/2 being the order of the day with most major bookmakers though some are floating him at 21/5.

Grands Crus has certainly impressed and you can back him anywhere from 6/1 to 12/1. Synchronised is getting ante post respect and hovers at a much more consistent 12/1 though a 10/1 and a 14/1 were visible. Midnight Chase trades at 14/1 for the most part while Quel Esprit has also been declared for this one. Weird Al sits at 20/1 but is in 14s with some bookies. Quito De La Roque is an across the board 25/1 with Burton Port at the same price.

Longer-odds fancies include Medermit, Junior, Little Josh and Grand National winner Mon Mome.