Gold Cup Tip: Bristol De Mai

What’s left of the big names still dominate the betting for the Gold Cup but I think the market has overreacted to Bristol De Mai’s defeat at the hands of Native River.

If you take the Denman Chase form literally, Bristol De Mai has 9 lengths to find with the winner but immediately after the race his jockey said he felt a ‘little flat’ and subsequently was found to be lame. That run is therefore excusable and we shouldn’t forget he was favourite to beat Native River.

Go back to his demolition job in the Peter March Chase and he has to be a live contender for the Gold Cup. He smashed a decent field by 22 lengths and ran an impressive speed rating with consummate ease. The Racing Post gave him a rating of 173 for that win, which isn’t a million miles away from what Cue Card has managed this season, with a 180 for his Betfair Chase success.

Bristol De Mai is a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and fences and has plenty of class. He is also consistent, having never finished outside the top-3 in the UK. Nigel Twiston-Davies knows what it takes to win the Gold Cup and by forgiving one (excusable) poor performance we are getting a big price. 

Back him each-way at 33/1 with Paddy Power and get 4 places at 1/5 odds plus money back if he is second.