Friday 18 March 2016 16:36, UK
Matt Brocklebank runs the rule over the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with Don Cossack fancied to justify favouritism.
Don Cossack heads the betting for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup and has been given the vote of confidence from jockey Bryan Cooper, who prefers the Gordon Elliott-trained nine-year-old over Willie Mullins' Don Poli.
Will it be the right choice by the jockey, or can Cue Card complete an illustrious treble and bring up the £1million bonus? Here's our A-Z guide to the field for the 3m2f70y Grade 1 contest.
CARLINGFORD LOUGH (Jockey: Barry Geraghty)
Recent form: 19-461
Dual winner of the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown, where he slammed Road To Riches by 12 lengths, but has come up short on two previous visits to the Cheltenham, including when a well-held ninth to Coneygree in this race. This year's renewal looks a shade stronger if anything and a place probably his best hope.
Rating: 6/10
CUE CARD (Paddy Brennan)
Recent form: 2-4111
Remarkable campaigner who romped to victory in the Champion Bumper here as a four-year-old and he's had a distinguished hurdling and chasing career since then. Right back to his very best this season and he's bidding to complete a £1m bonus treble having won the Betfair Chase and King George on his last two starts. Won the Ryanair Chase in 2013 on his last Festival visit and surely one of the most popular winners of the week should he prevail.
Rating: 9/10
DJAKADAM (Ruby Walsh)
Recent form: 12-21F
Possibly the forgotten horse of the race having fallen when odds-on favourite here in January but certainly worth remembering it was he who chased home Coneygree in the big one 12 months ago. Looked as good, if not better, than ever when thrashing Valseur Lido in the John Durkan on his seasonal debut and at the age of seven there's every reason to believe he could have much more to offer.
Rating: 7/10
DON COSSACK (Bryan Cooper)
Recent form: 111F1
Ended last season as the highest-rated chaser in training and this year's form gives us no reason to doubt his talent. One blip was a late fall when appearing to be mounting a strong challenge in the King George at Kempton and although not particularly impressive in his prep at Thurles in January, that came over an inadequate trip and on ground softer than he cares for. Some have questioned his Cheltenham record but had excuses when he was third in last year's Ryanair and he's the one they all have to beat with Cooper opting to ride him over Don Poli.
Rating: 10/10
DON POLI (Davy Russell)
Recent form: 11-511
Hugely talented seven-year-old who doesn't do anything flashy but gets the job done more often than not, winning five of his six chase starts to date. Most of his form is on soft going but did win the RSA Chase here on good 12 months ago and he's bound to be staying on strongly up the hill. But will he be quick enough to maintain his place when the tempo increases?
Rating: 8/10
IRISH CAVALIER (Paul Townend)
Recent form: 42155P
Won the novices' handicap chase at the meeting last year and added to his tally at Newton Abbot in October. Found life tough since, though, and pulled up when last seen on heavy ground here in January. Loads to prove in Grade One company and yet to fully convince over a staying trip so plenty of reasons to look elsewhere.
Rating: 2/10
O'FAOLAINS BOY (Noel Fehily)
Recent form: 5/P1P8
Had a long time off after enjoying a good 2013/14 campaign, when he beat Smad Place narrowly to claim RSA Chase glory at the Festival. Very in-and-out since returning and while his wide-margin win at Newbury in December suggested he was back on an upward trajectory, two flops since, including over hurdles last time, temper enthusiasm. Hard to see him being good enough to contest the finish.
Rating: 2/10
ON HIS OWN (Patrick Mullins)
Recent form: 97U482
Grand old servant to the Mullins yard and his finest hour came here when beaten a short-head by Lord Windermere in the 2014 renewal of the Gold Cup. He's being aimed at the Grand National and looked on good terms with himself when second behind Boston Bob at Fairyhouse recently but he'll need others in this line-up to seriously disappoint if he's to lift the top prize here.
Rating: 3/10
ROAD TO RICHES (TBC)
Recent form: 13-312
Third in the Gold cup last season and has kept up a very strong level of form this term but he ran in the Ryanair Chase on Thursday and doesn't look likely to take part.
Rating: 5/10
SMAD PLACE (Wayne Hutchinson)
Recent form: 4-1141
Popular grey who went close at the Festival in the World Hurdle a couple of times before pushing O'Faolains Boy close in the 2014 RSA Chase. Wasn't anything like his best throughout most of the last campaign but returned to action with a Kempton win in November and followed up in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. Only fourth when different tactics were adopted in the King George at Kempton but back to peak form with a thrilling front-running win over this course and distance in January. Looks a strong pace angle here but drying ground and stronger opposition the slight nagging doubts over his claims.
Rating: 7/10
VERDICT: Few would rule out Cue Card winning the £1million bonus after the season he's had already and the reception Sprinter Sacre received on Wednesday could even be matched should Colin Tizzard's popular chaser do the business in Friday's feature. But Don Cossack looked like he could have taken his measure in the King George before falling two fences from home and the drying ground has come good for Gordon Elliott's highly-regarded charge. He's the pick of Bryan Cooper and is strongly fancied to open his Cheltenham Festival account at the third time of asking.
