Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup: get the inside track from connections

Henry de Bromhead's horses Minella Indo and A Plus Tard are in contention for the Boodles CheltenhamGold Cup. Minella Indo finished third in the Champion Chase at Down Royal and was pulled up in King George at Kempton. He finished second in last month's Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

A Plus Tard won the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November. Minella Indo is partnered this time by Robbie Power. Gordon Elliott’s Galvin won twice at Prestbury Park. He was expected to be a Grand National contender. He has shown his class with his Down Royal Champion Chase second and Savills Chase victory since. The race at Cheltenham looks open. Richard Thompson is hopeful A Plus tard can go one better than 12 months ago. Jamie Codd told Jamie to hunt him round in the north. They didn't think he was that class. But in Leopardstown he outstayed A plus tord.

Arkle and Best Mate are the last two three-time winners of the Gold Cup. Al Boum Photo has two Gold Cups in the bag following back-to-back wins in 2019 and 2020. Tornado Flyer has been kept fresh since his surprise King George triumph on Boxing Day. The Festival’s most successful trainer has a second string to his bow in Tornado flyer.

Dan Skelton's Protektorat is the shortest-priced British hope in the Gold Cup. Nicky Henderson's Chantry House took the Marsh Novices’ Chase at the Festival last year.   The King George VI Chase didn't work for Pro Tektor at all. The Alcester trainer decided to go straight to the Cheltenham Gold cup.