Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup

1515 GMT, Cheltenham, Thursday 18 March, 3m 2½f
Number, form, horse's name, age, weight, trainer, jockey.

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Pinsticker's choice
1 Best Mate 2 First Gold 3 Therealbandit

Latest odds

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1 316U3/-6042 ALEXANDER BANQUET 11-11-10
Willie Mullins IRE Ruby Walsh
Without a win for more than two years since claiming the Irish Hennessy Gold Cup. Cannot be fancied with confidence.
Rating: 5/10. Odds: 100-1

2 1F-3113 BEEF OR SALMON (IRE) 8-11-10
Michael Hourigan IRE Timmy Murphy
Fall early on in the 2003 race does not generate confidence. Talented, but well beaten by Best Mate at Christmas.
Rating: 7/10. Odds: 10-1

3 1/111-21 BEST MATE 9-11-10
Henrietta Knight Jim Culloty
Top chaser of his generation. Sets the standard. Mishap or freak running appear only obstacle to emulating the great Arkle with third straight Gold Cup win.
Rating: 9/10. Odds: 4-6

4 3P1-153 FIRST GOLD 11-11-10
Francois Doumen FR Thierry Doumen
Nagging feeling his year was 2001 when meeting abandoned due to foot-and-mouth disease. At his peak would be one of few genuine rivals to Best Mate.
Rating: 8/10. Odds: 20-1

5 2/3333-0 HARBOUR PILOT (IRE) 9-11-10
Noel Meade (IRE) Paul Carberry
Third in the 2003 race, and a contender for the places again if his inconsistent jumping holds up.
Rating: 7/10. Odds: 28-1

6 1F121-P2 IRISH HUSSAR 8-11-10
Nicky Henderson Mick Fitzgerald
Has finished first or second in eight of his 11 starts. Will be hard pressed to add to that record.
Rating: 6/10. Odds: 20-1

7 1115-U1 KEEN LEADER (IRE) 8-11-10
Jonjo O'Neill Barry Geraghty
Top 2003 Festival jockey picked ahead of regular partner. Keen Leader rated a potential Gold Cup winner by his trainer, but horse's Cheltenham record is poor.
Rating: 7/10. Odds: 10-1

8 1/11-F12P6 SIR REMBRANDT 8-11-10
Robert Alner Andrew Thornton
Trainer's only hope after late withdrawal of the more fancied Kingscliff. Tendency to jump right could lose him valuable ground.
Rating: 4/10. Odds: 66-1

9 111111F THEREALBANDIT 7-11-10
Martin Pipe Tony McCoy
Exciting prospect. Late decision on whether to run - champion trainer's last novice to run in the Gold Cup, Gloria Victis, suffered a fatal fall.
Rating: 7/10. Odds: 12-1

10 132-42FU TRUCKERS TAVERN (IRE) 8-11-10
Ferdy Murphy Tony Dobbin
Career-best performance when second to Best Mate in 2003. Failed to reach that peak since, and has not completed his last two starts
Rating: 6/10. Odds: 20-1

Odds: William Hill Organisation Ltd