Why Cotswold Chase clash is a trial for only one of the big two

Keith Melrose analyses the Saturday feature, a clash between two of the Gold Cup's most upwardly mobile challengers

Protektorat is eased down to win the Betfair Chase at Haydock

Protektorat: has already reached an exalted level of form on his Betfair Chase winCredit: Grossick Racing

This is a Cotswold Chase of rare quality. The last time two horses came into the race having run to 170 or higher on Racing Post Ratings on their previous start was in 2017: an unforgettable, bittersweet race won by Many Clouds from Thistlecrack.

On top of that, Protektorat's last-time-out figure of 177 is historically high. No Cotswold runner could claim such a big performance on their most recent run since One Man in 1997.

One Man was 2-5 that day against a former King George winner in Barton Bank. You might wonder why Protektorat is still comfortably odds against this year given his main rival has never so much as run in a Grade 1.

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Keith MelroseBetting editor

Published on 27 January 2023inPreviews

Last updated 18:00, 27 January 2023

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14:25 Cheltenham

Paddy Power Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)6 ran

1st
4Ahoy Senor
13/2
2nd
6Sounds Russian
8/1
3rd
2Noble Yeats
11/4