'An outstanding each-way bet' – our experts assess a turbulent Gold Cup market

With Thistlecrack ruled out of the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup, Sizing John and Bristol De Mai blotting their copybooks and other big names being aimed elsewhere, the market for the Cheltenham Festival centrepiece has gone through plenty of flux in the past month. Here, three of our experts give their verdict on where the value currently lies.

Outstanding each-way bet

Thistlecrack's season-ending injury is another blow for Colin Tizzard. It's amazing to think at this stage last season there was a realistic chance of the trainer saddling the 1-2-3 in the Gold Cup with Thistlecrack, Cue Card and Native River, and it is with the only remaining contender of that trio that the value now lies in the Gold Cup.

Native River ran a stormer in the race last season, despite Tizzard not being in the best of form during the festival and off the back of a very tough season, so has every chance this time around. He has been given a break since but a lighter campaign should surely help his chances come March.

William Hill are 12-1 and no-bet if he doesn't run at Cheltenham. Given the Gold Cup is his only festival target, that is an outstanding each-way bet.

Tom Park, Ante-Post Focus

Strong form and great stamina

Our Duke proved he is a top-notch chaser when turning a seemingly competitive renewal of the 3m5f Irish Grand National into a procession with a 14-length demolition job off a mark of 153 – a performance that earned a Racing Post Rating just 1lb lower than the figure Sizing John ran to in winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Our Duke: his reappearance effort can be overlookedCredit: Caroline Norris

He clearly has a question to answer on the back of trailing home in last when an odds-on favourite on his reappearance in the JNwine.com Champion Chase.

However, he scoped abnormally and subsequently underwent an operation on his back and, with 12-1 available, I'm willing to overlook the effort given the hugely positive impression he had previously created, with the Gold Cup looking tailor-made for a horse with such strong form and an abundance of stamina.

Tony McFadden, reporter

25-1 will look big on the day

Perhaps last year's Irish novices were an exceptional bunch. Road To Respect won the Christmas Chase and Anibale Fly landed the Paddy Power by seven lengths off 148.

Coney Island beat both of those quite convincingly in the Drinmore last season. He is now rated 162 after his Ascot romp, which proved he is fit and well and retains all of his ability, and 10-1 looks very fair. He has a touch of class.

With Yorkhill likely to step down in trip and Djakadam disappointing over Christmas, perhaps Willie Mullins will call upon Total Recall to try end his Gold Cup hoodoo and the 25-1 available now will look a big price on the day if he is his only runner.

David Jennings, deputy Irish editor

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