Key questions and hot views as Rather Be bids for Caspian Caviar compensation

1.55 Cheltenham
Caspian Caviar Gold Cup | 2m41/2f | Grade 3 | ITV4/RUK

Will luck smile on Rather Be this time?

As night follows day, it is natural for BetVictor Gold Cup principals to carry on to the feature handicap of Cheltenham's December meeting. Yet although the first, second and third from the November showpiece renew rivalry, the favourite to triumph is a horse who last month came home without a rider.

Baron Alco, Frodon and Guitar Pete filled the first three places at the end of a calamity-packed contest in which nine of the 18 runners either fell, unseated their jockey or were brought down.

The latter fate befell poor Rather Be, who was cantering when removed from proceedings at the final ditch. His misfortune was particularly galling as connections were on a compensation mission, Jerry McGrath's regular mount having been bobbed out of Cheltenham Festival glory by a head.

Will this be the day when lady luck smiles on him kindly?

Nicky Henderson, who also runs the mare Casablanca Mix under Nico de Boinville, said: "I'm not going to say Rather Be was unlucky the other day as he was brought down too far out to say that, but he was going terribly well at the time. He was also pipped on the line at the festival, so he deserves to win one of these.

"What happened last time hasn't bothered him at all. We schooled him a few days later and he never flinched.

"Casablanca Mix loves the ground and this is her trip."

Is Baron capable of doing the double?

An awful lot went wrong for an awful lot of horses in the BetVictor Gold Cup but Baron Alco witnessed none of the mayhem as he made every yard to win under Jamie Moore, his performance hallmarked by exuberance, resolution and bold jumping.

Having been raised 6lb in the official ratings he meets runner-up Frodon 3lb worse off for a two-length beating, and although he now switches from the Old course to the New course, he is back on the track on which he finished second at the 2017 festival.

They never saw which way he went: Baron Alco in splendid isolation as he heads up the hill in the BetVictor Gold CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

"Baron Alco definitely seems to be in just as good form as he was before the last race," said trainer Gary Moore, whose seven-year-old seeks to become the fourth horse to complete the BetVictor-Caspian Caviar Gold Cups double in the same season.

"He is higher in the weights but the change of track won't make the slightest difference to him. In an ideal world I would have liked to see the ground a bit softer but we know he is effective on the ground because it's the same as it was in November.

"I'm never bullish but I'm certainly very hopeful about his chances.

"Casse Tete is no mug, either. He is a decent horse but I haven't yet seen him do on the track what he shows us at home, where he has the pace to work with two-milers. If he decides to pick up he could take off."

Will Walford's Medic sink or swim?

Robert Walford and James Best combined to enjoy a wonderful afternoon last Saturday when Walk In The Mill won them the Becher Chase at Aintree.

This time the pair are seeking another major triumph with Mr Medic, who has been hiked 9lb for his 20-1 reappearance success at Ascot.

Robert Walford enjoyed a day to remember at Aintree last weekend

"He is in good form but this is way tougher than the race he won at Ascot," said Walford.

"Everything is in his favour. It's just down to whether he is good enough. I don't know if he is but we felt it made more sense to run in this race now than to go for another smaller handicap at Ascot and go up in the weights again.

"Now is the time to throw him into a big race. If he can swim, great, but if not we'll work our way back to shallower waters."

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Frodon and Romain De Senam
I hope the rain we’re forecast doesn’t arrive before the race as the better the ground the better Romain’s chance is. Frodon is very versatile. He’s up 3lb from his run in the handicap the last day and he’s there to be shot at from top weight. He does love the New course, though.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of War Sound
He certainly was impressive last time. He has gone up in the weights but he continues to be in good nick and I think he goes on any ground.

Alan King, trainer of Full Glass
We’d love that rain to arrive in time for Full Glass. He had a good blow at Haydock and the race should have brought him on. He has been giving the fences at home a lot more respect than he did the first at Haydock, but he ran well on his one run for us since he came over from France at Ayr in April when again the ground was as quick as he would want.

Nigel Twiston-Davies is hopeful of a big run from Foxtail HillCredit: Grossick Racing Photography 0771

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Splash Of Ginge and Foxtail Hill
Foxtail Hill is in great form and he has come down the ratings quite a bit. On this better ground I would be very hopeful of a big run in a hot race. Splash Of Ginge will need a lot of rain to run to his best.

Nicky Richards, trainer of Guitar Pete
He is in grand fettle. He is knocking the walls down at home because he is so ready for action. He has run two solid races this season and with a clear run I'll think he'll put in a big effort.

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