Cheltenham Gold Cup Form

There are many Gold Cup trials over the National Hunt racing season. We've picked out the key trials so you can gauge the form of the main protagonists for this season's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Check out the latest odds for the 2010 Gold Cup.

Betfair Chase

Result	Haydock - 21st Nov 2009	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1st	Kauto Star 4/6F	9	R Walsh	P Nicholls
2nd	Imperial Commander 9/1	8	P Brennan	N Twiston-Davies
3rd	Madison Du Berlais 6/1	8	T Scudamore	D Pipe

The 2009 winner for the Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup had his seasonal reappearance at Haydock in the Betfair Chase. On soft ground and against mudlarks such as Madison Du Berlais and Notre Pere there were plenty of question marks for the Champion who obliged but given a mighty scare, winning by a whisker from Imperial Commander. Trainer Paul Nicholls said that his horse needed the run and would go for his fourth consecutive King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

Hennessy Gold Cup

Result	Newbury - 28th Nov 2009	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1st	Denman 11/4F	9	R Walsh	P Nicholls
2nd	What A Friend 7/1	6	S Thomas	P Nicholls
3rd	Niche Market 33/1	8	A Glassonbury	R Buckler

Denman franked the form that saw him win here in 2007 off tope weight, which he followed up with a demolition of the 2008 Gold Cup field at the Cheltenham Festival. Stablemate What A Friend has since run himself into contention whilst Barbers Shop who finished fourth here is prominent in the each-way betting for the Gold Cup in March.

King George VI Chase

Result	Kempton - 26th Dec 2009	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1st	Kauto Star 8/13F	9	R Walsh	P Nicholls
2nd	Madison Du Berlais 10/1	8	T Scudamore	D Pipe
3rd	Barbers Shop 14/1	7	B Geraghty	N Henderson

Kauto Star ran out a thirty-six length victory in what was the finest of his four consecutive King George wins. The race certainly franked Kauto Star's favourtism for the Gold Cup in March and also did little to suggest that any of the runners in this race could turn the tables at Cheltenham. Madison Du Berlais is a good horse in his own right but in a different league to the winner whilst it is likely that Barbers Shop will run in the Ryanair Chase. A distant fifth place finish was disappointing for Imperial Commander and there are now question marks whether he'll take his chance in the Gold Cup or look for back to back wins in the Ryainair.

Lexus Chase

Result	Leopardstown - 29th Dec 2009	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1st	What A Friend 11/2	6	S Thomas	P Nicholls
2nd	Money Trix 14/1	9	D Russell	N Richards
3rd	Joncol 7/2	6	A Cawley	P Nolan

Paul Nicholls has monopolised the Gold Cup in recent years and the emergence of What A Friend, a half a length winner in the Lexus Chase will give the Champion trainer every chance of all three places at the Gold Cup in March. Following up on his second place in the Hennessy, What A Friend held off the fast finishing Money Trix to take the Grade 1 in Leopardstown. Bookmakers have cut his odds for the Gold Cup in half and represents a decent each-way chance. Favourite Cooldine was pulled up and was a drifter in the ante-post Gold Cup betting.

Argento Chase

Result	Cheltenham - 30th Jan 2010	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1st	Taranis 16/1	9	N Schofield	P Nicholls
2nd	Carruthers 7/4F	7	M Batchelor	M Bradstock
3rd	Joe Lively 9/1	11	J Tizzard	C Tizzard

Registered as the Cotswold Chase and previously better known as the Letheby and Christopher Chase, Paul Nicholls trained Taranis to a 16/1 win here, after two years off the track with injury. The nine year old was last seen on a track winning the Ryanair here in 2007, but connections have confirmed that he'll take his chance in the Gold Cup in 2010.

Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup

Result	Leopardstown - 7th Feb 2010	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1st	Joncol 9/4F	7	A Cawley	P Nolan
2nd	Cooldine 5/2	8	R Walsh	W Mullins
3rd	Schindlers Hunt 20/1	10	P Flood	D Hughes

Won by favourite Joncol who connections say will not be making the trip to Cheltenham in March. Second place Cooldine was winner of the RSA Chase in 2009 but has struggled with fitness so far this season. Trainer Willie Mullins said he'd come on for the run and is still an each-way shout for the Gold Cup.

AON Chase

Result	Newbury - 13th Feb 2010	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1st	Tricky Trickster 8/1	7	R Walsh	P Nicholls
2nd	Niche Market 25/1	9	A Glassonbury	R Buckler
3rd	Air Force One 14/1	8	P Moloney	C Mann

This race did not go to plan for Paul Nicholls, despite actually winning it with Tricky Trickster, as Gold Cup hopeful Denman was having his last run before March and unseated rider AP McCoy at the last having gone off a 1/6 favourite. A mistake at the fourth last all but destroyed his chance of winning before he eventually parted company with McCoy at the last. As a result he weakened in the Gold Cup betting with Kauto Star shortening considerably with the bookmakers.

Get the latest Cheltenham Gold Cup tips from Channel 4 Racing's Tom Lee.

Other Gold Cup Trial Races

Old Roan Chase - Aintree 24th Oct 2009

In the past the Old Roan Chase has been used as an early season Gold Cup trial, most notably by Kauto Star. However, it turned out that none of the Gold Cup hopefuls took part in this race, won by track specialist Monet's Garden. The winner is almost certain to swerve the Cheltenham Festival to take a punt at the Aintree Grand National instead. Former Gold Cup runner Knowhere finished third behind Tidal Bay in second and neither look likely to lineup in the Gold Cup field in March 2010.

Jnwine.com Champion Chase - Down Royal 7th Nov 2009

Kauto Star has previously used the Jnwine Champion Chase as a warm up for the King George winning here in 2008. There was no such star on show however in the 2009 renewal, with Paul Nicholls instead sending Grand National hopeful My Will who finished second behind winner The Listener. The Irish specialist would be a potential Gold Cup horse if the going was in his favour but injury has put paid to this season's campaign. Notre Pere was the other notable Gold Cup horse and fell at the last when looking like a winner.

Paddy Power Gold Cup - Cheltenham 14th Nov 2009

Since the introduction of the Ryainair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, run over two and a half miles the Paddy Power Gold Cup has become less of a Gold Cup trial. First two home Tranquil Sea and Poquelin will most probably be aimed at the Ryanair.

Future Stars Chase - Sandown 4th Dec 2009

This race was won by 2009 Cheltenham Gold Cup seventh Barbers Shop who fast-tracked his way into the race. Seven Is My Number won the 2009 renewal in fine style but is unlikely to line-up in the Gold Cup. Some bookmakers have quoted on the horse running in the RSA Chase at the Festival.

Boylesports.com Gold Cup - Cheltenham 12th Dec 2009

Like the Paddy Power, the Boylesports.com Gold Cup run in December is seen as more of a trial for the Ryanair Chase at the festival where winner Pocquelin is favourite in the ante-post betting.

Welsh National - Chepstow 28th Dec 2009

The Welsh National is probably seen more as a Grand National trial these days as it's a stiff stamina sucking test. Winner Dream Alliance doesn't have an entry into the Gold Cup, nor do any of the runners.

Check our quick reference guide for the Gold Cup trials.