An 18-1 tip for the Cheltenham Gold Cup

The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30 p.m.) is the highlight of not just the final day of the Cheltenham Festival but this whole glorious week of racing. Yet, again, the Festival has been largely dominated by horses from the other side of the Irish Sea but I hope a British-trained horse will land the £350,00-plus first prize today.

Despite winning twice at the Festival and landing last year’s Randox Grand National, CORACH RAMBLER remains a bit of a mystery in that we still don’t know how good he is at his very best. With his hold-up style, he never wins by more than he has to and he is always best in the spring.

The very soft ground – and hopefully a fast pace – will play to his limitless stamina and we know that he relishes this course and distance from his two wins in the Ultima Handicap Chase over the previous two years.

Scottish handler Lucinda Russell is not simply regarding this as a prep race for the Grand National next month: her ten-year-old gelding will be primed for this contest too. Back him each way at 18-1 with William Hill, BetVictor, Ladbrokes or Coral, all paying three places (there are shorter odds on offer with bookies paying four places).

However, if the ground turned really heavy, Russell might yet pull her horse out of the race: although Corach Rambler handles the conditions, the trainer does not want to give him a really tough race so close to Aintree. In that scenario, all stakes would, of course, be refunded.

I have already put up Bravemansgame each way at 20-1 for this Grade 1 contest and he will go off shorter than that today. However, I fear today’s very soft ground will test his stamina to the limit.

The Irish-trained horses will, of course, be hard to beat.