Monkerhostin - can win the Gold Cup.
MONKERHOSTIN TO STRIKE GOLD
By Carl Llewellyn
I just can't believe Beef Or Salmon is going to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday. He has consistently run well in the past in small fields in Ireland but has disappointed when he came over to Prestbury Park. He is set to go off favourite, but is more like a 16-1 chance to me. Instead I think that Monkerhostin will win the race. He produced a great effort in the King George at Sandown when a close second to Kicking King and I think he could have beaten the winner if he had got his run going a bit earlier. He has the best credentials for this race and would be a short-price favourite here if he had won that day. I don't think he will have any problem with the trip, he jumps well and has been running really consistently in all the top handicaps. Going into the race he has the best form, has form at the track and also goes on all types of ground bar very soft - which I am sure it won't be on Friday. He is the one they all have to beat. I ride Ollie Magern and it is fair to say he has had an up-and-down season. He started off very well at Wetherby in the Charlie Hall Chase but has had a few setbacks since but is back in really good form. If he came back to the Wetherby form he could make them all go. But I would make Monkerhostin my banker of the week.
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