Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting Choice Analysis

With the news that Best Mate has been ruled out of the totesport Gold Cup at Cheltenham (3.15) on Friday 18th March, the Festival showpiece has been thrown wide open and the first seven in the betting are hard to separate.Kingscliff is the market leader at around the 4-1 mark and merits plenty of respect. Stamina will not be an issue for the eight-year-old, who landed the Foxhunters' Chase over the Gold Cup course and distance in 2003, and he has subsequently established himself as a leading light in the staying chasers' sphere.Robert Alner's charge finished 2½l second to Kicking King in the three-mile King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, but there is a good chance that he will reverse the placings this time, as Kicking King is far from certain to see out this quarter of-a-mile farther trip, on what is a far more testing course. However, Kingscliff appears to lack a turn-of-foot, which is just as crucial as jumping technique and stamina in the Gold Cup, so my advice is to side with Celestial Gold, who looks well worth an interest at 7-1, which is offered by VCBet.Indeed, Celestial Gold possesses both pace and stamina aplenty. The ex-Irish pointer underlined his versatility by impressively landing the 2m 4½f Paddy Power Gold Cup in December, two weeks before following up in the 3m 2½f Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. The seven-year-old suffered his first reverse of the season when a close third to subsequent Racing Post Chase winner Farmer Jack in the Aon Chase at Newbury, in which Strong Flow split the pair in second. However, they crawled for the first half of that race - it was essentially a tactical affair - and Celestial Gold took a strong hold in the early stages, which took its toll in the latter stages of the race.The Martin Pipe-trained gelding is much more effective when produced late in a strongly-run race, which he is guaranteed to get on Friday, and must have every chance in a renewal lacking a horse of superstar status.Strong Flow jumped well in the Aon and is undoubtedly a class act. Whether or not his jumping will prove equally sound in a fast-run Gold Cup is a different matter entirely, however, and I would have reservations about this fragile sort having quite enough mettle.Beef Or Salmon was found to have been suffering with a respiratory problem when brushed aside by Rule Supreme in the Irish Hennessy, and is better judged on his seven-length beating of Best Mate in the Lexus Chase in December. Although it must be said that he may be flattered somewhat by that performance, as Best Mate was clearly below par, while the third home Pizarro jumped poorly, as did Rule Supreme, who eventually fell.Rule Supreme would be a leading contender if you could guarantee that he will put in a clear round, but you can't, while Grey Abbey, courageous though he is, fits into a similar category to Kingscliff, in that he remains vulnerable to a horse with a change of gear.Betting verdict: 1pt win Celestial Gold @ 7/1 (VCBet)