Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Won two Grade 1s in Ireland in spring 2024 during novice chase campaign (2m4f/3m1f, heavy/yielding) and posted first win since in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase here (3m1f, soft) this January; only eight and it's possible he has an even bigger performance in him, but he had to work hard last time and was receiving 6lb from the runner-up L'Homme Presse; others preferred.

His remarkable haul of ten Grade 1 wins includes three at the Cheltenham Festival, and it was at that level that he won at Down Royal in November on his sole outing this season; however, he was a well-beaten third in the Ryanair last March and, now 12, today's task is likely to prove beyond him.

He's performed respectably in defeat at the last two Cheltenham Festivals and won a Grade 2 at Down Royal (2m3f, good to yielding) in November; 14l fourth when upped in trip in the Irish Gold Cup (3m, soft) last month and he'll be doing very well if he improves upon that finishing position today.

Won the Arkle here (2m, soft) in March 2024 and relished the step up to 3m1f in the Grade 1 Bowl at Aintree (good to soft) last April; that win has been the catalyst for a string of excellent efforts, including his third in a blanket finish in the King George (3m, good to soft) in December and his 5l second in the Irish Gold Cup (3m, soft) last month; can be difficult to settle which is something of a concern in view of today's stiff stamina test, but on the flip side he's been finishing his races strongly; respected.

Impressive in Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle here (3m, soft) in January 2023 and 7l runner-up in Grade 1 chase in France (3m3f, heavy) in November this term; rain would be a plus for this French raider but he was soundly beaten in the 2024 Betfair Chase on his last British start and would be a shock winner.