Rising star Santini meets seasoned ace Bristol De Mai in top Cotswold showdown

Paddy Power Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) | 3m1½f | 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

It is 40 years since the Cotswold Chase was first run with Raffi Nelson taking the prize under Steve Smith Eccles for one of the training rank's newest recruits – a bright young upstart called Nicky Henderson.

The fledgling trainer was in just his third season with a licence but, somewhat shockingly, should Santini be successful in the 2020 edition it will double Henderson's tally in the race. And he has questions to answer having had a wind op since a sub-par run last time at Sandown and with last year's Gold Cup third Bristol De Mai chief among the opposition.

It may be 40 years since he last won the race, but Henderson remembers Raffi Nelson – who went on to represent the yard in the 1981 Gold Cup – with great fondness.

"He was a favourite of [long-serving former assistant] Corky Browne's and I remember him well," said Henderson. "I probably haven't run many horses in the Cotswold. Neither Bobs Worth nor Long Run ran in the race and you need a horse with Gold Cup potential to be in it."

Straight after last year's RSA there was a strong body of opinion Santini was one of three horses full to the brim with Gold Cup potential. Topofthegame has been denied by injury this season, but third-placed Delta Work has already enhanced his claims by landing the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

And then there is Santini – the horse who split those two last March – who far from pleased everyone when scrambling home from Now McGinty at Sandown in November and comes here with much to prove. He has had a breathing alteration since and puts his Gold Cup credentials on the line against five rivals.

"He had a minor wind op after Sandown and there have been no opportunities and he's had nowhere to go since," said Henderson. "Once he missed the King George we had to wait for this. He ran very well in the RSA, so I'm hopeful."

It is hard to be much more than hopeful when facing a horse as talented as Bristol De Mai in his near optimum conditions. A staying trip on soft ground after a sizeable break, the only way it could be any more to his liking is if the race was switched to his beloved Haydock.

But trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies was keen to point out his Cheltenham record is not too shabby either. He said: "It was a very good run at Haydock, where Lostintranslation was race-fit. I was more than happy with him and this has been the target since. He’s been placed at two festivals, so his Cheltenham form can’t be too bad, can it?"

What the stats say

While the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup often falls to an up-and-coming chaser on their first season out of novice company, the main trial run at the track has a somewhat different age profile to say the least.

While Frodon was only a seven-year-old when scoring here 12 months ago, he was just the third horse of that age to strike since Jair Du Cochet back in 2004.

In the 15 editions since Guillaume Macaire's star took the spoils, 11 winners were aged nine or older, while five of the last ten to triumph had run in the Gold Cup previously.

Bristol De Mai (right): follows home Al Boum Photo in the Gold CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

Nine-year-old Bristol De Mai fits the criteria of age and previous Gold Cup participation, whereas history suggests the likes of Santini and Slate House could be light on the requisite experience for this test.

What the trainers say

Mick Channon, trainer of Mister Whitaker
He's in great form and we could have gone to Doncaster but the owner was keen to run here.

Emma Lavelle, trainer of De Rasher Counter
He's as good as we've had him and if that's good enough then great, but if not we'll look at going a different route.

De Rasher Counter and connections following Ladbrokes Trophy successCredit: Edward Whitaker

Phil Kirby, trainer of Top Ville Ben
He's settling much better and is improving all the time. He deserves his place in the race and we're really looking forward to it.

Joe Tizzard, assistant trainer of Slate House
We were delighted with Slate House in the Kauto Star and he came out of it very well. He has a good record at the track, jumps and travels, and hopefully has a good chance.

Magners Gold Cup:9-1 Santini, 50-1 Bristol De Mai, 66-1 Top Ville Ben and De Rasher Counter, 100-1 Mister Whitaker

Get ahead of the game with Get Your Eye In - exclusive Saturday preview content on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app from 2pm on Friday