Cheltenham Festival 2010: Gold Cup analysis by Marlborough

By Marlborough Published: 7:00PM GMT 02 Mar 2010

Number One: Kauto Star attempts to keep his Gold Cup climax Photo: PA

Totesport Gold Cup (3m 2f 110y)Cheltenham Festival 2010 Mar nineteen (3.20pm)

Marlborough"s Analysis: Kauto Star has grown in to the finish professional. He completed the intensely singular undiluted 100 figure when demolishing his rivals to land a fourth uninterrupted King George on Boxing Day and has no weaknesses. Denman returned a rarely equitable rating of 80 when he won the 2008 Gold Cup, but his successive total have been well next that level, together with when giving a gutsy arrangement to win the Hennessy Gold Cup. He positively didn"t see a thrweat to Kauto Star at newbury in the Aon Chase in Feb and the unclothed skeleton of his Hennessy form and his Gold Cup second last year leave him with a good understanding to find with Kauto Star. That said, he is still the greatest danger. Imperial Commander ran a good competition to be knocked about a nose by Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November, but Kauto Star was patently short of full fitness that day and Imperial Commander is at his rise when fresh. His 38 figure at the behind of Kauto Star in the King George was some-more in keeping with his ubiquitous turn of performance. Cooldine seemed unfailing for a splendid destiny when romping home in the RSA Chase at the Festival last year, recording his second uninterrupted 64, nonetheless has unhappy since. Potentially he is still tip class, nonetheless he has copiousness to prove. The on-going What A Friend his ratings this deteriorate of 53 and 46 are majority higher than those he was recording last deteriorate could be the majority appropriate each-way shot. He is difficult and still able of improvement. Verdict: Denman will have to be behind to his majority appropriate and some-more to tip Kauto Star. At stream prices, if pushed, the total prove the gamble has to be Kauto Star. What A Friend might follow them home to finish a second uninterrupted Paul Nicholls 1-2-3 and that looks the worth choice if you can find a bookie charity that speciality bet.

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Guide to Marlborough"s disdainful Ability Ratings: The ratings are distributed on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 representing the undiluted performance. They magnitude an particular opening in an particular competition usually and are not Private Handicap ratings, that are associated to alternative performances. Only the majority appropriate horses are able of recording a rating of 60 or above. The entries are shown along with their top rating during the past twelve months and the rating for their past five identical races (chases or hurdles), the majority new is first. Key: P=pulled up; F=fell; U=Unseated rider; X = competition not rateable.

KAUTO STAR 100 (100-80-80-72-U)

IMPERIAL COMMANDER 80 (39-80-P-42-30)

TARANIS 68 (68)

NOTRE PERE 64 (U-33-43-64-F)

COOLDINE 64 (36-P-35-64-64)

ARAN CONCERTO 64 (26-33-P-F-64)

DENMAN 56 (U-54-F-56-14)

SCHINDLERS HUNT 54 (34-41-27-44-54)

WHAT A FRIEND 53 (48-53-10-22-21)

MY WILL 52 (22-42-19-38-52)

CARRUTHERS 52 (49-36-37-22-52)

TRICKY TRICKSTER 51 (51-32-20-18-27)

MADISON DU BERLAIS 48 (46-44-48-32-42)

ALBERTAS RUN 44 (41-37-34-33-P)

MON MOME 42 (25-39-P-42-11)

CERIUM 39 (36-39-P-P-41)

CASEY JONES 36 (18-36-P-22-42)

CALGARY BAY 36 (28-3-P-25-36)

MR POINTMENT sixteen (16-8-0-P-18)

Past Seven Gold Cup winners and their Ability Rating completed in that competition

2009: Kauto Star 80

2008: Denman 80

2007: Kauto Star 64

2006: War of Attrition 54

2005 Kicking King 64

2004 Best Mate 48

2003: Best Mate 64

Ante-Post Betting: 4-5 Kauto Star, 7-2 Denman, fourteen Imperial Commander, Cooldine, 33 Taranis, What A Friend, Tricky Trickster, 40 Notre Pere, 50 Carruthers, 66 Madison Du Berlais, Albertas Run, Notre Pere, 100 and up others

Marlborough"s Betting Forecast: 4-7 Kauto Star, 7-2 Denman, sixteen Imperial Commander, twenty Cooldine, What A Friend, Taranis, 50 Carruthers, Madison Du Berlais, 66 Schindlers Hunt, Aran Concerto, Notre Pere, 100 and upwards others