NOBLE YEATS is the choice to make history as the first horse to complete the National-Gold Cup double in the ‘wrong’ order.
Golden Miller and L’Escargot already had Gold Cups on their CV when victorious at Aintree in 1934 and 1975, whereas Noble Yeats seeks success in chasing’s blue riband having previously savoured glory on Merseyside.
Last April, the Emmet Mullins-saddled gelding became the first seven-year-old National winner since Bogskar in 1940 and – the race has proved the springboard to new heights.
Things didn’t look promising when Yeats’ son was pulled up at Auteuil in October on his first race back but, with Sean Bowen on board for the first time, he made handsome amends at Wexford 16 days later.
And another step forward came via victory in the Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase over Aintree’s regulation obstacles in December, when Noble Yeats swept to a three-and-three-quarter thumping of Dashel Drasher, with today’s rivals Ahoy Senor and Sounds Russian in third and fourth.
My selection finished behind that pair – 2022 Gold Cup third Protektorat was fourth – in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase on Cheltenham’s trials card in January.
But his strong finish, a turnaround at the weights and the re-application of the visor that was worn at Aintree but has been dispensed with since, will help Noble Yeats turn things around over an additional furlong and 14 yards.
The natural starting point when assessing the opposition is Willie Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs , unbeaten over fences bar a final-obstacle calamity in the Turners Novices’ Chase 12 months ago and an eight-length victor from stablemate Stattler in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last month.
The favourite is feared most of all, but reigning title-holder A Plus Tard , despite a no-show at Haydock Park last November, King George VI Chase hero Bravemansgame and dual top-level scorer Conflated all warrant respect.
Minella Indo lifted the Gold Cup in 2021 but only one horse, the great Kauto Star, has ever regained it, Eldorado Allen looks up against it and Hewick could have done with a dry week in Gloucestershire.
Those inclined to shoot for the stars could do worse than Royale Pagaille , a horse who can’t have it soft enough but one who threatens to land a big one when the planets align.
Iroko is a going-places handicap hurdler – and it’s anyone’s guess when his form will reach a plateau.
Recruited from France, where he ran twice ran with promise without getting his head in front, the five-year-old made the frame in Chepstow’s Finale Junior Hurdle – in its last running as a Grade 1 – and the Grade 2 Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton Park last winter.
This term Iroko is 2-2 in the handicap sphere for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, breaking his career duck over an extended two miles and three furlongs at Wetherby in November with a length-and-three-quarter margin from Foster’sisland.
Nine weeks on, Iroko shrugged off a 7lb rise back at the West Yorkshire course in mid-January when following up by 14 lengths from Rafferty’s Return.
With further progress all but a given and rising star Aidan Kelly in the plate, even a 10lb re-audit to a new British Horseracing Authority rating of 138 may not be enough to stop Iroko from racking up the hat-trick.
The Festival finale is a race of endless possibilities, but Spanish Harlem, Imagine, Might I and Mark Of Gold all have claims on a minor medal.
Newsboy's tips for every race on Cheltenham Gold Cup day
CHELTENHAM
1.30 LOSSIEMOUTH
2.10 PEMBROKE
2.50 MONTY’S STAR
3.30 NOBLE YEATS (NB)
4.10 BILLAWAY
4.50 JEREMYS FLAME
5.30 IROKO (NAP)
