Cheltenham Gold Cup tips: 2019 runners and riders rated on form, results and trainers as Native River leads betting

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the showpiece event at the Festival and is the most closely-contested race in the National Hunt calendar.

Native River, who won it last year thanks to its superb ability to travel on slow ground that held up a lot of its rivals, is early favourite to win it again.

Willie Mullins has never won the Gold Cup and has three entires in Friday's main event.

Whoever does come out on top it promises to be another thriller on the final day. Below, we evaluate all 16 entries.

Native River

Odds: 7/2

Case for: Won the race last year and is primed to do so again if it gets the right ground. The rain that hit Cheltenham in 2018 turned the ground very soft with near-heavy conditions and brought Native River, who has the stamina to make any horse, right into contention.

Case against: Was due a prep run in the Denman Chase at Newbury in February, but was denied the chance due to the race being cancelled as a result of the equine flu outbreak. He had a racecourse gallop instead of taking part in the re-arranged race.

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Trainer: “My opinion is that Native River has probably got the better chance but the other ones (Elegant Escape and Thistlecrack)

Verdict: If there is rain and the racing times are slow then this is a horse to seriously consider.

Presenting Percy

Odds: 7/2

Case for: It was an impressive winner last time out at Gowran Park and was sensational winner in the RSA last year, however it has only raced once since. It's trainer, Patrick Kelly, only enters horses in races if he believes they stand a good chance of winning and therefore has a great Cheltenham strike rate.

Case against: This horse has not jumped a fence in public since the the Festival last year, which is unorthodox preparation to say the least. It's a likely winner if he is right, but you have to trust there’s no problem given its lack of public appearances. It had a heavy preparation campaign before the last two Festivals, so this would suggest something if not right.

Trainer: Patrick Kelly does not talk to the press in the way other trainers do and Davy Russell admits to not knowing where he trains...

Verdict: It’s proven that it has ability and the RSA win last year was just magnificent, but there are serious concerns about the preparation it has been given. Get a good look at this in the parade ring before the race if you can before deciding whether this is for you. On its day there is not much that can beat it, but has something in the build-up stopped it from having its day in the Gold Cup?

Clan Des Obeaux

Odds: 4/1

Case for: Brings some of the best form into the race having won the King George VI chase at Kempton in December and the Denman Chase at Ascot. The part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson horse has had the best preparation and should be favourite.

Case against: It has never won at this distance and the Gold Cup can be an entirely different race to anything it has experienced before, especially on soft ground. Soft ground better serves his opponents and it may not maintain its burst of pace if things are going slow.

Trainer: Paul Nicholls: "He now quickens up in front, he doesn't idle in front. He's learning all the time. He's a real professional.

"He's just a mature horse - mentally he's improved a lot. He's easier to train. We had problems last year, just little immature problems. He's the finished article now.

"He's only seven years old. Everyone expects things too soon with these horses and I'd like to think there is more to come over the next couple of years as he gets older and stronger."

Verdict: Barring a biblical amount of rain this is a horse that should be seriously considered to win.

Kemboy

Odds: 10/1

Case for: Looked good when finishing fourth in the JLT last year. Won a Grade One race in December and is continuing to improve.

Case against: Form may flatter him and in a gruelling race it is unlikely to be able to utilise its pace.

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Trainer: Willie Mullins: “Kemboy burst on to the Gold Cup scene at Leopardstown, when a very impressive winner. He put up a huge performance.

“Good ground would aid his cause — if it comes up like that on the fourth day of Cheltenham, he must have a very good chance.

“And I’ve no worries about the trip. I think the further Kemboy goes, the better he’ll be.”

Verdict: If there is a quick pace to this then there is some chance Kemboy may do something, that’s a big if, however.

Bellshill

Odds: 10/1

Case for: A light campaign seems to suit this horse and Willie Mullins seems to have set it up nicely. Ruby Walsh has chosen this over other entries and will be confident about adding to the Irish Gold Cup last time out.

Case against: Willie Mullins has never won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and you sense it will take something a little more special than Bellshill to do this given it has failed to win at The Festival three times.

Trainer: Willie Mullins: “Bellshill stays very well and jumps very well, which is probably his biggest asset. He’s had an in-and-out time over the last couple of seasons, but he’s now becoming the horse we thought he would be.”

Verdict: Will take an almighty race to win. Placing is not out of the question.

Might Bite

Odds: 12/1

Case for: It ran so well last year on unfavourable ground and was just pipped by Native River in a thrilling finish. Has four Grade One wins and is hard to beat on its day.

Case against: Issues this season are worrying and two poor runs in the build-up suggests it will not be back to its best on Friday.

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Trainer: Nicky Henderson: "There was nothing much else we could do, but something's changed and he's definitely working to a much higher level now.

“He's been telling us for a while that we're getting somewhere near the old Might Bite, and I was delighted with that. He looks great and all we want now is some decent ground."

Verdict: If it is at its best it will take some beating, but it is very unlikely to be racing to its potential.

Thistlecrack

Odds: 14/1

Case for: Was once one of the form horses in England, but it has not recovered since a bad injury in early 2017. Was not far beaten by Clan Des Obeaux last time out.

Case against: An 11-year-old has not won this since 1962. Likely to be beyond its best

Trainer: Colin Tizzard: “Thistlecrack won a World Hurdle, and he’s a brilliant horse. Keeping him sound has always been the issue but he’s fine at the moment and he’s done all his work and won’t need much more.

Verdict: It showed signs in the King George that it could be slowly making its way back to its best, but you feel there are better options.

Al Boum Photo

Odds: 14/1

Case for: Beat a decent field to win at Tramore in January in its only race of the season.

Case against: Ruby Walsh has opted for Bellshill instead.

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Trainer: Willie Mullins: “I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Al Boum Photo yet.

“We decided to take him to Cheltenham fresh, and he shouldn’t have any problem with the Gold Cup trip.”

Verdict: Ruby Walsh has opted against this horse and you probably should too.

Bristol De Mai

Odds: 22/1

Case for: This horse offers good value and is the officially highest rated entry. It was second in JLT last year despite things going against it. It ran well as a six-year-old in the Gold Cup two years ago.

Case against: Jumping is a concern after falling at Kempton last time out.

Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies: “He seems overpriced for the Gold Cup. He’s in great form and has beaten most of the fancied horses this season.

“He's benefited from a break and I have no ground concerns. Softer ground may inconvenience other horses more than him but we'll be happy with what we're given. It's a very open race but I’m pretty hopeful.”

Verdict: Seems like a very high price for a horse that could produce a big performance on the biggest stage.

Elegant Escape

Odds: 16/1

Case for: Stays well and may feature in the places if he can work on a finish. No pressure on him could result in a decent performance. It won the Welsh National and has plenty of stamina.

Case against: Scruffy in jumping.

Trainer: Colin Tizzard: “Elegant Escape won't mind that rain and he's the forgotten horse I think. He's a thorough stayer and you saw how he powered away after the last in the Welsh National. This is a completely different race, but he is a strong, strong stayer."

Verdict: Will stay on and could place.

Anibale Fly

Odds: 16/1

Case for: Stayed on and finished third in this race last year at 33/1 and showed that this was not a fluke by finishing fourth in the Grand National a month later.

Case against: Needs soft ground otherwise it will get lost towards the back.

Trainer: Tony Martin: “He ran very well in the Gold Cup last year and we'll try and get him back there again.”

Verdict: Soft or heavy ground would make this an attractive each-way selection.

Shattered Love

Odds: 33/1

Case for: Won over two miles last year at big price.

Case against: Has not been right this season and has had wind surgery.

Trainer: Gordon Elliott: “She came home with sore shins the last day [in the Savills Chase at Christmas]. All being well she’ll run in the Gold Cup and she’ll probably be my only runner. When you go into those unknown trips,

“it’s always a worry with any horse but if she turned up in the same form as the John Durkan, I think she’d have a great each-way chance. But she’s got a nice weight in the English National, so we’ll keep an eye on that as well.”

Verdict: Slim chances of placing.

Invitation Only

Odds: 25/1

Case for: Looked at its best at Gowran Park last time out over 3 miles and one furlong. Possibly more to come.

Case against: Good ground is not its friend given it has only raced on soft and heavy going since 2016.

Trainer: Willie Mullins: “Invitation Only needs to step up on his Thyestes Chase form to get involved in a Gold Cup.”

Verdict: Avoid.

Definitely Red

Odds: 40/1

Case for: Has two wins at Cheltenham and has won five times at Grade Two level.

Case against: Finished sixth in this last year.

Trainer: Brian Ellison: “The ground on Gold Cup day was too deep for him last year. Perhaps it will be different this year.”

Verdict: Unlikely to do anything.

Double Shuffle

Odds: 66/1

Case for: Has historically shown quality and finished second to Might Bite in the 2017 King George, but that’s been as good as it’s been.

Case against: His best form may not be enough.

Trainer: Tom George: “He's in unbelievably good form. He's in as good a form as we've had him.

"As long as it doesn't get very soft his owners are keen to let him take his chance and I can understand why.”

Verdict: Nope.

Yala Enki

Odds: 66/1

Case for: Finished third behind Elegant Escape in the Welsh National. Has good stamina, so will end up finishing.

Case against: Looks out of its depth.

Trainer: Venetia WIlliams

Verdict: Will need a lot of luck to get something here.