Cheltenham Tip Spam

This was some Cheltenham spam we received from at the races which always seems to spam us despite us asking nicely to be removed from their list. Dont you hate that? "There's just ten days left until the runners go to post for the blue riband of jumps racing, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, so we've taken a close look at the highlight of next week's Festival and asked our ante-post tipster Gary Nutting to give you the lowdown. Below you'll find his verdict on seven top hopes for the big race plus their Best Odds from our odds-comparison service and links to Archive Video Form. Kauto Star KAUTO STAR - Trainer: Paul Nicholls - Form: 11111 Top-rated chaser who has looked a true champion this season with high-class victories over two miles in the Tingle Creek at Sandown and three miles in the King George at Kempton. Unproven over further, though, and the natural speed he shows makes him potentially vulnerable over an extra two furlongs in championship grade, especially if the ground remains testing. BEST ODDS: 6/4 Exotic Appears to have made staggering progress this term, reeling off back-to-back victories in big two and a half mile handicaps at Cheltenham before chasing home Kauto Star in the King George. Showed that performance was no fluke when skipping clear for a wide-margin success in an established Gold Cup trial back at Cheltenham in January and has no stamina or ground worries on that evidence. BEST ODDS: 5/1 The Listener Looked a very useful novice last season before falling on his last two outings (including in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham), but confirmed his class with a decisive victory in the Lexus Chase over three miles on heavy ground at Leopardstown over Christmas. Caught close home by Beef Or Salmon after looking all over the winner in Irish Hennessy last time, which raises slight stamina concerns. BEST ODDS: 7/1 State of STATE OF PLAY - Trainer: Evan Williams - Form: 1151-1 Top-class prospect who has won four of his five starts over fences, running away with a competitive handicap on the Mildmay course at Aintree last spring and comfortably defying a much higher mark in Hennessy Gold Cup on soft ground at Newbury on his sole start this season. Open to more improvement and confident trainer has purposely kept him fresh for this. BEST ODDS: 10/1 My MY WILL - Trainer: Paul Nicholls - Form: F3-132 Classy staying handicapper who has run creditably over inadequate trips on his only two previous tries in Grade 1 company over fences. Put up a cracking effort under a big weight when close third in a three and a half mile handicap at Cheltenham in December and again ran well when second to a well-treated rival at Wincanton last time. Possible each-way claims on testing ground as stamina is his forte. BEST ODDS: 16/1 L'AmiL'AMI - Trainer: Francois Doumen - Form: 3-5342 Winless in 13 runs since winning a Grade 2 novices' chase at Warwick two years ago but has put up a series of creditable efforts in defeat, including when finishing fourth in this race last year. Bustled up Kauto Star in Aon Chase at Newbury last time, but was getting 10lb there and the winner would have scored easily but for a bad blunder at the last. Another for whom soft ground is a plus. BEST ODDS: 16/1 Beef or Salmon BEEF OR SALMON - Trainer: Michael Hourigan - Form: 212121 Gained his tenth Grade 1 success over fences when coming from a seemingly hopeless position to edge out The Listener in Irish Hennessy, having beaten last year's Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition at Down Royal in November. But it's well known that he's yet to win outside Ireland in seven attempts, (including three Gold Cups), although the prospect of testing ground must raise supporters' hopes. BEST ODDS: 18/1 "