Giovinco was also in that race, and he ran a blinder in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham (RIP), so the form isn't entirely awful.
Course form can't be overlooked here, with the exception of the two Irish winners nearly all the other winners have ran at the track before.
the only dangers I see are Banbridge and Corbetts Cross if the current entries.
... and out of those two, Bandbridge has yet to run over 3 miles chase (a big negative for me, loads of middle distance horses have tried this at single prices and failed). Despite that, he is quality here, and I may consider if the field cuts up and there is no obvious front runner
I was impressed with Corbetts two runs at the end of the season, but he's a proper stayer whilst not the quickest of jumpers. Course form is a big positive, failing that for the Irish, I'd want them to be a horse you'd likely see come down in trip, not up. Corbett looks like a GC or National type, the opposite you want for a KG on a sharp track, which is likely going run on quickest ground
I cant bring myself to back a 10 year old, so there goes the likes of Envoi Allen
Grey Dawning is way too short for me. I dont mind horses going to the betfair chase, in the mud, and finishing 3-4th. But horses that are pushed all the way out, and then stopping like that, that has to have left a mark. Reminds me of when Clan Des Obeaux pushed Bristol, and then finished 8L back from Frodon in the King George. Too short now and he'll have to be one hell of a horse to come back fit and ready from that last race
Il Est Francais, I love a CD winner. But that PU... if I can get a free bet on him, great but I have to stick to my guidelines, which include "dont back horses for grade 1's if they pulled up LTO"
I kind of like L'Homme Presse, Venetia is so good with getting her horses to peak and he could come in here and run well.
I'd be disappointed if Hewick won this again, think he won a strange renewal last year (oh, there was some big names in that race but most have failed since that race)
I already backed Bravemansgame before the Charlie Hall. Yup, ouch. Backed him each way as I thought he would be there in the place mix, and the KG field tends to cut up. I have a very very small chance of seeing some cash back from that bet
The one horse I have backed, a mad outsider, is Jungle Boogie. Not sure he'll turn up though, but the way he travelled in the gold cup suggests to me that he would be quick enough and stay a gold cup. He's the one horse in the field which could throw up a Torando flyer / Hewick type shock. If he turns up, and the ground is soft, I could add to my bet again.
This could all come down to the going and pace
If good ground and limited front runners, Banbridge may break some of the trends
If softer, and we have pace, and he turns up, the big outsider
