2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup Form Guide
The 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup runners who go to post will be headed by 2011 winner, Long Run who will be aiming for number two after his brilliant display in the race last season. We take a look at the form and the performances of the leading contenders during the course of the season. Other potential runners at this stage include the exciting Time For Rupert who could be set for a big future for Paul Webber while Paul Nicholls may also send What A Friend to the Gold Cup this season along with Gold Cup legend Kauto Star.
Latest Cheltenham Gold Cup 2012 Win Odds
As and when the big guns start to run this season we will be following each of them right here, it will be a comprehensive review of each of the main contenders with the aim of helping punters to make the right selection on Gold Cup day.
Gold Cup Form Guide 2012
Weird Al has entered the Gold Cup picture for 2012 with an excellent win in the Charlie Hall Chase at Weatherby. The horse has moved to the Donald McCain Jnr yard over the summer and he was impressive in holding off a decent run from Time For Rupert. Both horses looked good there but could only manage third and fifth in the Betfair Chase behind Kauto Star and Long Run proving both have to improve to mix it with the best. Time For Rupert has bounced back with an easy win in an average Graduation Chase at Newbury but it does get him back to winning ways and he is still headed towards the Gold Cup.
We have seen another potential Gold cup contender in Joncol make his seasonal debut. The Paul Nolan horse has been plagued by injury recently but returned with a win in the Memorial Chase at Thurles to raise hope of a good season. He is likely to go to the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury next and another good run their will raise hopes of a Gold Cup run at Cheltenham.
The JNWIne Champion Chase is always a good early season Gold Cup trial at Down Royal and we have had a fighting win for the exciting Quito De La Roque. The Colm Murphy trained horse stayed on to take an unlikely win as he beat Sizing Europe to increase his number of consecutive wins to five.
Long Run has made his seasonal debut in the Betfair Chase at Haydock but he was upstaged by the brilliant Kauto Star who produced a stunning performance to defy his age. Long Run made a few jumping mistakes and was unable to live with the legendary Kauto Star who defied his age and calls for his retirement to throw himself back into the Gold cup picture.
Kauto and Long Run rematched on Boxing Day at Kempton in the King George Chase with everyone expecting Long run to reverse the form from Haydock. Most people were wrong though as Kauto Star once again bowled along in front to gallop and jump Long Run out of the race as the legendary horse won his fifth consecutive King George. Kauto now looks a real Gold Cup threat this year to win the race for a remarkable third time but Long Run cannot be ruled out with age still on his side.
The 2010 Welsh Grand National winner, Synchronised, has emerged as a surprise Gold Cup contender this season after he won the Lexus Chase in some style. The Jonjo O'Neill trained horse beat the more fancied Quito De La Roque and Rubi Light with some ease at Leopardstown and now looks a nice each-way Gold Cup contender if there is a bit of rain at Cheltenham.
Midnight Chase has proven himself a Cheltenham specialist over the last couple of years and he once again proved that point with a career best win in the Argento Chase on Trials Day recently. Dougie Costello gave him in a great front running performance and plenty of good horses could not live with him as he won well. Time for Rupert, Diamond Harry and Captain Chris were nowhere to be seen despite being well fancied in the betting with Tidal Bay staying on well to finish second.
