THE Haldon Gold Cup is one of the highlights of the early season – and is most certainly the highlight of Tuesday’s fare. Six go to post for the feature as Gods Own bids to land the contest for a third time. But can he do it? In short, it would be a surprise. Tom George’s veteran […]
THE Haldon Gold Cup is one of the highlights of the early season – and is most certainly the highlight of Tuesday’s fare.
Six go to post for the feature as Gods Own bids to land the contest for a third time.
But can he do it?
In short, it would be a surprise. Tom George’s veteran performs well at the track but he’s eleven now and is surely vulnerable to some younger legs.
That said, he showed last season in finishing a fine third to Altior on his final start that he’s still capable of mixing it with the best.
He’s got to give weight to some promising up-and-comers, though, and that could just tip the scales against him.
Of his rivals, Destrier is shortest in the market thanks to his fine third in Grade 1 company at the Aintree Festival.
Off a mark of 151, he could still be nicely handicapped but that wasn’t the strongest top-level contest in the world and he still to prove himself in open company.
Paul Nicholls has hit the ground running and therefore it may be worth siding with DOLOS.
He finished last season with a flourish, convincingly landing a competitive handicap at Kempton and is taken to improve further now.
Janika had an exceptional season last year, even if he couldn’t actually get his head in front, but again could find himself too harshly handicapped.
Charbel has gone off the boil and needs plenty more than his tame reappearance at Chepstow, while Lalor is also on a recovery mission and is overlooked until he rediscovers some spark.
