Quel Esprit and Burton Port looking to cause a race upset in the Grade 1 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase
With the final day of the Cheltenham Festival approaching, the horse-racing enthusiasts are anxiously awaiting the Grade 1 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase, scheduled to take place on 16th March, 2012, hoping their bets will be cashed in as their
favourite aims to cross the wire first.
With Kauto Star and Long Run collecting all the bets, no one is really paying attention to the under-dogs. These horses are just as capable of catching up to the leaders and crossing the finish line first.
Burton Port looks like a strong competitor in this race. He may not have all the popularity in the market but he has an impressive record nonetheless. Trained by the renowned trainer Nicky Henderson, the eight-year-old gelding has shown a great degree of
progression.
The son of Bob Back, out of Despute, finished as a runner-up in his closing race of 2010.
He entered the Grade 3 Hennessy Gold Cup Chase Handicap with odds of 15 to 2 but was defeated by Diamond Harry by 1 and a ¼ length at Newbury on 27th November, 2010.
Henderson has been taking his runner through work-outs to ensure that he has the strength and capability to shine in the prestigious Cheltenham Festival.
He finished as a runner-up again, this time in seasonal debut, where he was defeated by Long Run by an extremely narrow margin of ½ a length, in the Grade 2 Betfair Denman Chase which took place at Newbury on 17th February, 2012.
Competing in this race against Long Run will be an opportunity for him to defeat and claim the much deserved victory.
Trained by W.P. Mullins, Quel Esprit looks in good form. The eight-year-old gelding has been race favourite in his last four races. He was brought down when he was disputed for the lead in the Grade 1 Growise Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown on 3rd
May, 2011.
He secured a hat-trick by securing a victory in the next three races. The punters and the bookmakers will be watching him closely to see how he will perform.
The victory that completed his hat-trick took place on 12th February, 2012. He delighted the bookies with win as he was race favourite in the Grade 1 Hennessy Gold Cup which took place at Leopardstown.
The son of Saint Des Saints, out of mare, Jeune D’Esprit, lived up to all the expectations and triumphed over Roberto Goldback by 2 lengths.
With already a hat-trick added to his record, it looks like he has all that it takes to win the Gold Cup.
It is speculated that Quel Esprit might take the lead in this giving top contenders Kauto Star and Long Run a serious run for their money. Burton Port may take the lead if luck is on his side. It may be a surprise victory with the possibility of causing
a major race upset.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely the writer’s own and do not reflect the editorial policy of Bettor.com
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