JODAMI is set to defy history today by repeating last year's win in
the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Statistics tell us that no horse has won successive Gold Cups since
L'Escargot in 1970 and 1971. And only two outright favourites have
landed chasing's premier event since 1975.
But the evidence of the formbook not only leaves no doubt that Jodami
is the probable winner but also suggests that he is a value bet at
anything other than odds-on.
The nine-year-old won with massive authority 12 months ago on ground
supposedly too firm for him.
He was always travelling strongly and settled the issue in a matter of
strides once hitting the front at the last.
In that sort of form it is difficult to see any of last year's victims
turning the tables on him.
Trainer Peter Beaumont looks to have tuned him to perfection judged on
a second successive win in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown
last month.
If anything, the opposition is weaker this time around with likely
chief rival Barton Bank absent due to injury and The Fellow possibly not
quite the force he was.
Bradbury Star and Young Hustler have failed to sparkle in their
build-up while Blazing Walker and Miinnehoma need to improve on the form
shown in their only outings to date this term.
There is plenty of place money up for grabs and Docklands Express
looks the best bet to chase home Jodami.
Third to Cool Ground in 1992, he was conceding nearly a stone to the
winner when second to Antonin in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton last
month.
The latter made the form look very good by taking the Ritz Club Chase
here most impressively on Tuesday.
Henrietta Knight has an outstanding chance of landing her first
Festival winner with Lackendara in the Grand Annual Chase.
The seven-year-old already has shown useful form over fences, meeting
his only defeat in four outings when attempting to concede 10lb to
Coonawara at Kempton.
His easy 10-length victory after a three-month lay-off in the James
Capel Novices' Chase at Ascot marked him out as a candidate for the
two-mile championship next year and suggests that he is thrown in on
just 10st 2lb in this handicap.
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