2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup - Long Run The Early Ante Post Favourite

From Wagnerpedia

Imperial Commander is of course the cheltenham festival having won the Gold Cup last season and he looked in a similar vain when he won his only start this season in the Betfair Chase back in November. He beat a decent field at Haydock and his price for the Gold Cup contracted as a result, he did sustain a cut to his leg at the time which means he has been off track since but remains the one to beat. There are plenty of doubts around Kauto Star as he head to the Gold Cup following his poor run in the King George Chase at Kempton, he was comortably beaten by Long Run that day and the Nicky Henderson horse looks like star of the future as the Gold Cup Form suggests. Gold Cup Result 2011

1520 Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase3m 2½f 1. Long Run (Sam Waley-Cohen) 7-2 Fav 2. Denman (Sam Thomas) 8-1 3. Kauto Star (Ruby Walsh) 5-1 13 ran

Denman ran well in 2010 when second in the Gold Cup and The Tank can never be ruled out if on his best form, he started his season as normal at Newbury in the Hennessy Gold Cup off of top weight. Denman ran a brave race but tired towards the end to leave Diamond Harry the impressive winner, the Nick Williams horse though has picked up an injury and will now not feature in the Gold Cup Odds as a result while Denman has been off track since Newbury.

Among other cheltenham festival are the likes of Neptune Collonges and What A Friend, both are two more from the Paul Nicholls yard and What A friend in particular seems to be a horse on the up despite the fact he was comfortably beaten by Imperial Commander in the Betfair Chase. An interesting horse in the betting is the Irish Hennessy winner Kempes, he claimed that nice win in Ireland and now goes to Cheltenham with live each-way chances for Willie Mullins and is the mount of AP McCoy.