After Long Run’s victory over Kauto Star in the King George at Kempton last weekend, there is now a feeling that there could be a new wave of talented chasers set to relieve the older brigade of their domination in the Gold Cup. 

Kauto Star and Denman were responsible for memorable displays three years on the bounce and Imperial Commander emphatically ended their stranglehold on the Festival showpiece last year.  However it could be that even Imperial Commander is ready stand down from the top of the chasing division and the likes of Long Run, Diamond Harry, Pandorama and Punchestowns are fresh on the scene and ready to replace their elders.

That is not to say that Kauto Star, Denman and Imperial Commander will not go down without a fight.  All three have looked awesome at times this season and Denman’s display under top weight in the Hennessy Gold Cup was truly admirable.  Imperial Commander returned to action with a cozy success in the Betfair Chase and for all Kauto Star didn’t look himself at Kempton, he still won a Grade One at Down Royal, beating the classy Sizing Europe and China Rock with a gutsy display.

It would be no great surprise to see any one of those three step forward at Cheltenham in March, but it could also be the year to dig out a horse at a decent price and Nicky Henderson’s Punchestowns makes plenty of appeal at current odds.  There has to be doubts that stablemate Long Run will enjoy Cheltenham quite as much as he does Kempton and the two courses represent two very different challenges.  The King George winner ran with great credit in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on his seasonal reappearance but that was hardly a Gold Cup worthy display of jumping and his inexperience could count against him.

Pandorama would be the one to be on if his place in the field was guaranteed but Noel Meade only intends to run the horse if he gets his ground.  If the going was soft or heavy on Gold Cup day he would look an outstanding bet and has all the qualities needed to win the race.  But does anybody really want to put their money on a horse that might not line up?

Diamond Harry was devilishly good in the Hennessy Gold Cup and his jumping woes seemed something of the past, but it is worth taking a look at Punchestowns who is being allowed to trade at 25/1 in the ante post betting.

One of the highest rated hurdlers to ever go jumping, after cruising home by eleven lengths in the 2008 Long Walk Hurdle, Punchestowns finished second behind Paul Nicholls’ superstar Big Buck’s in the 2009 Ladbrokes World Hurdle and chasing immediately became the new target for this impressive looking eight-year-old.

A winning debut over fences before a seven length Grade One success at Sandown were soon forgotten after he finished lame and virtually tailed off in the RSA Chase at last year’s Festival.  He was never going that day but was still fancied ahead of stablemate Long Run in the betting.  A head defeat to Pride Of Dulcote at Newbury in December was not an ideal return to action, but Punchestowns is bred and expected to continue to go from strength-to-strength with more racecourse experience and trainer Nicky Henderson has been keen to stress that there is still plenty of work to do with the beautifully bred superstar.  It will be interesting to see which races he takes on the way to the Gold Cup but he could line up at HQ at much shorter odds than are currently available.

Cheltenham Gold Cup ante post selection:

Punchestowns