One of the big races of the afternoon at Cheltenham on Saturday is the December Gold Cup Handicap Chase and with 15 runners going to post we have played two runners at each way prices.
The first is the Joe Tizzard trained War Lord who looks to have been primed for this event since his run in the Haldon Gold Cup with a step up in trip imminent since that run.
War Lord pretty much improved with every start last season, winning his first two chasing events of the season at Newton Abbot and Carlisle and he then managed a good second to eventual Arkle winner Edwardstone in the Grade One Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown, which represented a huge step up in class at the time.
He continued to run well in good company, winning at Lingfield in a decent Novices' Chase and he then was sent back into a Grade One at the Cheltenham festival when staying on superbly to grab fourth, again behind Edwardstone in the Arkle.
The gelding finished last season at Aintree in the Grade One Manifesto Novices' Chase and again ran a cracker to grab second behind Millers Bank.
Sent into open company for the first time this season taking on Greaneteen in the Haldon Gold Cup he looked to need the run, but did stay on eventually to grab third.
Dropping into a handicap off 148, always showing he has wanted another crack at this trip, he looks a cracking bet at 7/1.