Who are the British-trained dangers in the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
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You must cast your mind back some way for the last British-trained winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. 2018, in fact, when the Colin Tizzard-trained Native River saw off Nicky Henderson’s favourite Might Bite by a commanding four and a half lengths.
The home runners have had to settle for the odd minor prize in the last seven renewals, with Santini and Bravemansgame both notable runners up in 2020 and 2023, respectively, but could this be the year Britain finally regains jumps racing’s most prestigious prize?
There’s certainly reason to be hopeful. Betting exchange sites, like Betdaq, have several British-trained chances towards the fore of the market, and they have the form to prove they are worthy of being so prominent in the betting.
With that in mind, let’s look at the horses who could end the host’s eight-year wait for another Gold Cup success.
The Jukebox Man
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the next obvious step after winning the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, but it hasn’t occurred since the legendary Kauto Star in the early 2000s that a horse has won both in the same season.
However, The Jukebox Man has a great chance of rewriting the history books. The Harry Redknapp-owned eight-year-old won a thrilling renewal of the Kempton showpiece, beating Banbridge, Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie in a jaw-dropping finale that saw just half-a-length separate the front four.
It was devastating for trainer Ben Pauling and Redknapp when The Jukebox Man suffered a season-ending injury last season after winning the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, but he’s a serious contender for the Gold Cup now after an impressive start to the campaign.
Jango Baie
The Jukebox Man might have earned the plaudits, and rightly so, after winning the King George on Boxing Day, but the Henderson-trained Jango Baie could have every chance of reversing the form in the Gold Cup, given how the finish materialised.
The six-year-old was just outside the eventual placings in fourth, but he was keeping on up the outside in the closing stages, and had the race been any further than three miles, there’s an argument to be had that the result may have been very different.
The additional two and a half furlongs for the Gold Cup trip, plus the gruelling task of getting up the Cheltenham hill at the finish, poses a very different challenge than what the King George field faced, and it might just suit last year’s Arkle winner down to a tee.
Grey Dawning
Dan Skelton is, undoubtedly, now Britain’s top trainer. He’s been the best of the rest behind Willie Mullins in the Champion Trainer standings by some distance for the last couple of seasons, and he should take home the title this year, given how things are currently going.
He now has 11 Cheltenham Festival winners to his name, but he’s yet to land one of the four Championship races, and a Gold Cup success would confirm his status as one of the sport’s elite handlers.
His hopes lie in Grey Dawning. The nine-year-old made a nice start to the season, as Harry Skelton barely had to ask him for an effort when landing the Grade 1 Lancashire Chase at Haydock in November. He probably needs another big run before Cheltenham to prove his Gold Cup credentials.