Clan Des Obeaux to Win the Gold Cup

Regular readers will know how much I like Bristol De Mai, and I have backed him at big prices for the Gold Cup. Nothing would delight me more than to see him win this, but I think Clan Des Obeaux is blossoming at the perfect time. His King George win was out of the top drawer, travelling powerfully throughout but showing how much he’d really progressed when Cobden asked him to go, idling then on the run in.  If Bristol De Mai wasn’t running, Clan Des Obeaux would be a very confident pick. And much as I love the big grey, I must make Clan Des Obeaux the blog selection.

I won’t go into deep arguments for the other selections of the day, mostly because Cheltenham exhaustion is setting in, but I’ll combine the following three in an each way patent with pretty high hopes.

2.50. Birchdale – I think this horse, with some luck in soundness, could make a top class chaser in a couple of years – he will run very well here.

3.30 Clan Des Obeaux

4.10  Hazel Hill  His win at Warwick last time showed his jumping prowess and his appetite for victory. Even though he’s 11, his racing style is very much that of an improving horse.

2.10. I tipped Lisp last time and he did not run his race – the Betfair, which was postponed – should have been ideal, but he disappointed. His trainer believes he might have been at peak in training for just too long and went over the top. He’s well worth another chance.

5.30. Whether the improving Big Time Dancer is quite good enough to win the this I don’t know. But I do think he’s overpriced by some way and more than merits being the selection here.

Lisp and Big Time Dancer are well worth betting in EW singles and an EW double especially with the extra places offered by a few bookies.

In Summary:

2.10  Lisp. 28/1. Ladbrokes EW 6 places

2.50  Birchdale  5/1. Coral. EW 5 places

3.30 Clan Des Obeaux  5/1. Coral  EW 4 places

4.10. Hazel Hill 11/2 Coral EW 4 places

5.30  Big Time Dancer  25/1 Ladbrokes EW 5 places

Good luck

Joe