The 2023 Cheltenham Festival: Placepot picks for Gold Cup day

Willie Mullins undoubtedly holds the key here, as he has in two of the last three renewals. Lossiemouth didn't get much luck when chasing home GALA MARCEAU (12) in the Spring Hurdle (which is always a good guide), but it’s worth siding with the last-named again here as a Placepot banker. Stablemate Blood Destiny, an impressive winner of both starts since coming from France, has been kept fresh, and is respected accordingly, especially as his last time out win has been franked since. Indeed, the likes of Zenta and Gust Of Wind, who wasn’t disgraced behind Gala Marceau on his stable debut, are not ruled out either. Impressive Newbury winner Jupiter Du Gite has been popular in the betting and is respected.

Emmet and, in turn, Willie Mullins, have worked wonders with Leopardstown winner WINTER FOG (3) since he left the point-to-point fields and, given how well he ran when fourth at this meeting last season, his much higher handicap mark (16 lb higher than last time) shouldn't stop him hitting the frame. Similarly, his old stablemate Filey Bay hasn’t yet stopped improving, and is a big player once more after his run behind Aucunrisque, but this race has fallen to well-treated novices in two of the last three seasons and recent Grade 2 runner-up PEMBROKE (21) fits the bill. Gin Coco lost little in defeat when last seen and while he is 4 lb higher here, he looks to have been kept fresh with this race in mind. Path D’Oroux has plenty of big-field form to his name and it looks significant that he runs here rather than in any of the novice races. Similar comments apply to Hunters Yarn who would have been a live outsider in the Supreme.

Corbetts Cross produced an exceptional performance on his debut for Emmet Mullins when beating a very promising horse over two miles last time, but that may have taken plenty out of him, and it’s quite a quick turnaround for a horse that had previously plied his trade over further. Preference instead is for MONTY’S STAR (10), a strong stayer who has looked a bit of a slow burner when second to Shanbally Kid in January but who may now be coming to the boil. Stablemate HIDDENVALLEY LAKE (7), who chased him home that day, links several of these rivals, and is a big player along with runaway Thurles winner Embassy Gardens. The suspicion is that the softer the ground the better for Three Card Brag, whose second to Inthepocket looks solid form, while stablemate Favori De Champdou has already proven himself on a variety of ground and looks a good fit for this race.

Better is expected from defending champion A Plus Tard, for all he may have been flattered by the winning distance 12 months ago, but it’s hard to be totally confident given his lacklustre performance at Haydock on his only start this season. Any further rain would be against him, as it perhaps might be against the stamina reserves of Galopin Des Champs. He has the best form in the race, including an eight-length beating of stablemate Stattler last time out, but niggling doubts remain so he might be worth taking on in the Pot. BRAVEMANSGAME (3) has something to prove in terms of the course (well-held third here back in 2021), but he has performed well at a variety of venues. CONFLATED (4) has always shaped like a strong stayer, and his Christmas beating of Kemboy has been franked by the runner-up. Like the Grand National hero Noble Yeats, he’s a strong stayer who should be running on well late on.

BILLAWAY (1) showed plenty of heart to finally get his head in-front in this race 12 months ago, beating Winged Leader by a neck, and looks a very solid placepot selection. He was giving weight away to the much younger Ferns Lock when comprehensively beaten on his seasonal reappearance, but has had a sharpener since and this has undoubtedly been the target for some time. The market suggests that connections are confident that Vaucelet could be good enough to win this on his own, as his stablemates Ferns Lock and Winged Leader were scratched at the declaration stage. Bob And Co has twice failed to complete in this race, while Chris’s Dream looks to have been rejuvenated by the switch to point-to-points but his course record is poor. The prolific Famous Clermont has barely broken sweat in two recent racecourse wins, while Secret Investor is a classy recruit to this sphere but question marks remain over his jumping.

ALLEGORIE DE VASSY (1) has enjoyed two bloodless wins this term, taking her record since leaving France to 4/4, and could be out of the top-drawer. However, she is yet to win going left-handed and there is a nagging doubt that ideally she would have done so already, so she might not be one to bank on in the Placepot. Last year’s winner Elimay should be cherry-ripe after two warm-up runs this season and she looks a threat at a big price. Along with Jeremys Flame, who won comfortably at Huntingdon last time, Impervious looks a big danger, for all her best form has come over shorter. An overly-strong pace set by Magic Daze and co would bring Dolcita into the reckoning, but the second selection is ZAMBELLA (9). She has four lengths to find with Elimay on their run last year, and was beaten by Jeremys Flame last time, but more aggressive tactics should be employed here at a course that suits her well.

16 lines (1x2x2x2x1x2)

Leg 1: 12. Gala Marceau

Leg 2: 3. Winter Fog 21. Pembroke

Leg 3: 7. Hiddenvalley Lake 10. Monty’s Star

Leg 4: 3. Bravemansgame 4. Conflated

Leg 5: 1. Billaway

Leg 6: 1. Allegorie De Vassy 9. Zambella