Neptune Collonges can strike gold
A relentless galloper and brilliant jumper — at least most of the time — the grey eight-year-old looks certain to run to his best, a remark which may not apply to many of his rivals.
Paul Nicholls’ charge ran his heart out in the Gold Cup a year ago to finish third behind his stable companions, Denman and Kauto Star.
The selection is a year younger than both and chances are is still very much on the upgrade.
He comes here on the back of a decent trial at Leopardstown, beating Notre Pere by five lengths in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.
That contest was run in testing conditions and Nicholls has long believed Neptune Collonges is a better horse on a decent surface. He will have that today.
Denman was awesome a year ago, but looked less than enthusiastic on his reappearance at Kempton and is passed over.
Kauto Star never really travelled as he can last year and it was raw courage which finally saw him hold on for the runner-up berth.
He has been given a different preparation this time round and has been rested since, easily winning the King George at Kempton at Christmas.
He will be attempting to create history by becoming the first horse to regain the crown, but I have never had him down as a thorough stayer and that theory is obviously going to be fully tested now.
If there is to be a mild surprise then it could come in the shape of Albertas Run, who bounded up the hill when taking the RSA Chase here last year.
Nicky Henderson’s Zaynar gets the nap in the JCB Triumph Hurdle. He is unbeaten in two races over flights and is tough and resolute, the ideal sort for this challenge!
Take a chance on Charles Byrnes’ Weapon’s Amnesty in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
You can argue he isn’t quite up to this on form, but is consistent and has improved through the campaign. As a son of Presenting, he is likely to relish the drying ground.
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