Horse Racing Betting Tips: Rather Be with Cepage at the prices in Caspian Caviar
LAST month’s BetVictor Gold Cup was a dramatic race to say the least.
Gary Moore’s Baron Alco was out in front avoiding all the carnage in behind and he now tries to follow up in tomorrow’s Caspian Caviar Gold Cup (1.55pm).
This is not an easy double to pull off, with Exotic Dancer the last to do so back in 2006.
You certainly couldn’t rule Moore’s runner out from just a 6lb higher mark, but everything went right for him last time and I’m prepared to take him on at 6/1.
Race favourite RATHER BE ticks a lot of the boxes and looks the one they all have to beat.
Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old was desperately unlucky to be brought down four out when still travelling well in the BetVictor and deserves to be given another chance.
He’s never had much luck at Cheltenham, as he unseated Charlie Deutsch in the Martin Pipe Hurdle in 2017 and was then nailed on the line by Mister Whitaker in the novices’ handicap chase in March.
I have no doubt he is well-handicapped off a mark of 149, and he is unquestionably the most likely winner, but isn’t the most appealing at just 3/1.
Venetia Williams won this prize four years ago with Niceonefrankie and has had Tenor Nivernais and Aso placed in the race since then.
Aso would have been interesting following his impressive win at Newbury last time, but equally so is stablemate CEPAGE who is my main selection.
The son of Saddler Maker bolted up on his first start for Williams two years ago – proving he can go well fresh – and ran well in a number of good races last season.
He put in an excellent performance on his reappearance last season when beaten half a length by Sir Valentino in a valuable handicap at Ascot and went on to win a 2m4f handicap chase at Kempton the day after the Festival.
He was then a good fourth to Traffic Fluide at Cheltenham in April and that form has been franked by the winner a couple of times this term.
There’s every chance Cepage is still well treated off a mark of 143 and the forecast rain certainly won’t dampen enthusiasm.
All things considered, he looks a great each-way bet at 12/1 with Ladbrokes, although it’s a shame we’ll only get paid out for the first three home with just the 15 runners declared.
Bryony Frost has built up an excellent partnership with FRODON, who took this race back in 2016, and they can finish in the money again at 9/1 with the same firm.
It would be an incredible effort to win this off 164, but he’s verging on Grade One class and absolutely loves it at Cheltenham.
Only a six-year-old, he won this race two years when four and also romped home in a handicap on Trials Day in January.
He’s by no means regressing at this stage of his career and has the ability to go close here before moving onto bigger races.
After just 13 runs at the age of seven, Mr Medic is one of the progressive types in the field.
His trainer Robert Walford landed a big pot at Aintree with Walk In The Mill in the Becher Chase last weekend and has a live contender here at 10/1, while Philip Hobbs is in fine form this season and holds a chance with War Sound.
BILL ESDAILE’S CASPIAN CAVIAR 1-2-3
1 CEPAGE
2 RATHER BE
3 FRODON