With Cheltenham’s January meeting just about to take place it seemed a good idea to examine what chances the meeting has of producing a Gold Cup winner and where the Gold Cup winner usually comes from.

Tomorrow’s Letherby and Christopher Chase looks between Our Vic and Neptune Collonges. With both priced at 50/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup it seems that this can’t really be deemed a valid trial.

These are the routes to the Gold Cup the eventual winners took since 2000.

2000 – Looks Like Trouble – Pulled up in the King George, won the Pillar (now the Letherby and Christopher Chase)

2001 – Abandoned

2002 – Best Mate – Runner up in the King George

2003 – Best Mate – Won the King George

2004 – Best Mate – Won the Lexus

2005 – Kicking King – Won the King George

2006 – War Of Attrition -Runner up in the Lexus

2007 – Kauto Star -  Won the King George

Earlier in the season I highlighted the poor record of Hennessy Gold Cup winners and from the above evidence it is absolutely essential that a Gold Cup hopeful at least contests either the King George or the Lexus, without necessarily winning. If your ante post ticket contains a horse who was resting over the Christmas period, you might as well rip it up now.