Festival foes Mister Whitaker and Rather Be renew battle in BetVictor Gold Cup

2.25 Cheltenham
BetVictor Gold Cup | 2m4f | 4yo+ | Grade 3 | ITV/RUK

There was little to separate them on the track eight months ago and there is now little to separate Cheltenham Festival combatants Mister Whitaker and Rather Be as they renew rivalry in the BetVictor Gold Cup.

For punters the question is: which one this time?

On their previous meeting over this course and distance in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase, Mister Whitaker finished just the stronger, edging out Rather Be by a head at the end of a short but fierce tussle up the sport's most famous hill.

Rather Be has not run since but has this week usurped Mister Whitaker as favourite, perhaps mainly due to the fact he meets his rival on 9lb better terms, the reason for the whopping swing being the March victor has been raised for a reappearance defeat of the reopposing Happy Diva at Carlisle 13 days ago.

Watch Mister Whitaker's Carlisle success

It is now 40 years since Rather Be's trainer Nicky Henderson saddled his first runner in what was then the Mackeson Gold Cup. Zongalero finished second on that occasion and, across the subsequent four decades, the champion trainer has won this coveted prize just once, with Fondmort in 2003.

"We're better off with Mister Whitaker, but we got beat last time, so we're entitled to be," said Henderson.

"This was the obvious race to come after his good run at the festival. It's his first run of the season and we've just about got there in time. He took a bit of time to blossom but the last three weeks have been good. We have to be hopeful, but in a race like this that's all you can be."

Mister Whitaker's trainer Mick Channon said: "He seems in great heart and we're very pleased with him. He's got a bit to find with Nicky Henderson's horse but it would be crazy not to have a go with a lot of money involved.

"As long as he turns up in his Carlisle form he's got to have some sort of chance. If he's going to be at the top level he's got to go and be competitive in a race like this off this mark."

Two big chances for Moore to strike

Gary Moore has set punters – and son Jamie – a puzzle by saddling two of his stable's most talented servants, Benatar and Baron Alco, both of whom are prominent in the betting.

Jamie, the regular rider of both horses, has come down on the side of Benatar, who enjoyed an excellent novice chase season, including when a Grade 1 third at the Cheltenham Festival. That has left Baron Alco, who returned from a long spell on the sidelines when second at Chepstow last month, to be partnered by Jamie's brother Josh.

Benatar enjyed an excellent novice chase seasonCredit: Mark Cranham

"I hate running two of mine against each other but they both have strong chances and have to run," said Gary Moore, who believes we can forgive Benatar's reappearance defeat at Newton Abbot

"The race wasn’t run to suit Benatar last time," added the trainer. "It was a small field and it was messy, in that he ended up making his own running and was far too keen. Hopefully he can put things right in this race, as it should suit him much more.

"Baron Alco is a very genuine horse and runs the track well. He’s probably a bit better handicapped than the other lad, but there’s a reason for that as he was off the course for a long time before Chepstow.

"The race should suit him as well and he’s also got a really good chance."

Ground and fences could trouble Twiston-Davies duo

Local lad Nigel Twiston-Davies knows how to win Cheltenham's most famous winter prize, landing it for the fourth time with Splash Of Ginge 12 months ago.

The defending champion is back but would like more rain. Stablemate Ballyandy, a former Champion Bumper winner, also takes his chance but would seemingly like fewer or no fences.

Splash Of Ginge (second right) splashes through the mud to win the 2017 BetVictor Gold CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

Twiston-Davies said: "Unfortunately I can't see it raining like it did last year, which is bad news for Splash Of Ginge. He does love soft ground, which he's unlikely to get, but he's in good form and ran a nice race on his first start of the season at Newbury.

"Ballyandy's jumping has let him down recently. If he had jumped the last few fences better at Wetherby last time he would probably have won – but he didn't. We have done a lot of schooling with him and hope we've got it right, but until you get to a race you don't know."

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Frodon, Movewiththetimes and Romain De Senam
Frodon won nicely last time but he’s got to carry a lot of weight and is effectively 6lb higher as he carries a penalty, and Bryony Frost has no claim. He’s an improving young horse but has it to do at the weights. Movewiththetimes is on a nice weight but hasn’t really got it together over fences. We went for a confidence-booster at Fakenham and that all went a bit wrong as he unseated. Romain De Senam was a bit too free last week and ran in this race on ground that was too soft last season. He loves good ground and I could see him running a tidy race.

Frodon is out in front on his way to winning the Old Roan Chase under Bryony FrostCredit: John Grossick

Neil Mulholland, trainer of Kalondra and Shantou Village
Kalondra is a talented horse and a bit better than Shantou Village, so I’m hopeful of a good run from him. Both horses are winners around the course, which is a help, and go there in really good order.

Joe Tizzard, assistant to Colin Tizzard, trainer of West Approach
I'm sure there's a big race in him. We've always struggled with what is his ideal trip but on his last start over three miles it looked as though two and a half miles would suit ideally. He'll win one of these, but it's hard to know when.

Kerry Lee, trainer of Happy Diva
This has been her goal for this side of Christmas. I would have preferred to have three weeks between Carlisle and here but she deserves to be in the race. The track will suit and she has a great relationship with her jockey Richard Patrick.

David Pipe, trainer of King's Socks and Eamon An Cnoic
We've had this race in mind for King's Socks for a while. Although he has got form on softer ground he should be fine on what we've got at this meeting. He is in great form. Eamon An Cnoic is at the right end of the weights. He ran well in the Ultima at the festival and had a good blowout at Aintree on his reappearance. He would probably prefer softer ground.

Nicky Richards, trainer of Guitar Pete
He ran in this last year but was nearly brought down at the first, which wasn't ideal, but he still went on to run really well. He ran a good race on his reappearance at Wetherby and is raring to go.

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