Horse racing betting: Boylesports Gold Cup

What's happened to the game? There was a time when National Hunt racing was a sport where almost anyone could win the big prizes. The game hurdler Lady Rebecca, who won over £150,000 from a modest outlay used to blaze a trail for the countless trainers who didn't have the financial backing of some of the bigger owners, but consistently scooped the races that mattered. Click here for your $600 welcome bonus on Paddy Power Poker And yet, it seems the racing world has turned itself on its head. On the flat, it has been five years since the financial might of Coolmore and Aidan O'Brien won the Derby, with the likes of Sir Percy, who was bought for 20,000gns, winning the big classic at Epsom in a shot against the perceived hegemony of Ballydoyle. In the winter game, it has been three consecutive Saturday's that trainer Paul Nicholls has clinched the big race of the weekend. November 24 saw Kauto Star hold off Exotic Dancer in the Betfair Chase, a week later Denman put his hat in the ring for the Gold Cup in no uncertain terms with a complete display in the Hennessy Gold Cup. And things have continued in that format with Twist Magic running his rivals ragged in the Tingle Creek at Sandown. Where have all Nicholls's rivals gone? And it might not end there. New Little Bric has been heavily supported in the lead up to this weekend's Boylesports Gold Cup. He was 9/1 on Monday and the firms must have anticipated a deluge of funds as he now trades as short as 4/1, which could get shorter. His form on first inspection looks good enough, too. Nicholls gave him a prep run at Ascot three weeks ago, where he trailed in two-and-three-quarter lengths behind Howle Hill. Last season he signed off with a near-impossible task when trying to concede 13lbs to L'Antartique, who snuck the Paddy Power Gold Cup from another of Saturday's line-up, Il Duce. That looks good enough to win the Boylesports Gold Cup, but it all comes down to whether punters want to be bold and oppose Nicholls and his powerful stable, or whether they want to take a deep breath and try and get this juggernaut beaten. The typical winner is a horse that comes into the Boylesports Gold Cup in good form, has not finished out of the first five in a race at Cheltenham before, and carries less than 11st 4lbs. That wipes out virtually most of the field, which, for the romantics, includes New Little Bric and the bottom weight Mr Boo is the only one left. Mr Boo is currently trading at 50/1 with Paddy Power, and must rate an each-way punt at least. Jamie Moore's mount has a fantastic record on left-handed tracks on which he scored a hat-trick of wins last season in novice chases. He has raced on only right-handed courses since then, which gives his form a skewed look to it. If stats really aren't your thing, then Palarshan, who has solid course credentials, New Alco, and Il Duce look like the most likely candidates to upset the favourite. If, of course, you are looking for some easy money, it might be best just to give up and back Nicholls's horse this weekend. Verdict: 1pt each-way Mr Boo @ 50/1 (Paddy Power) Click here for your $600 welcome bonus on Paddy Power Poker