I don’t often play ante-post tips in this column, but one horse stands out to me in the December Gold Cup and I think his price could shorten considerably.
Of course, the danger with any ante-post play is whether the horse is confirmed, but there’s reason to believe that this play will run.
So, let’s dive in.
December Gold Cup – Pinkerton @ 16/1 with Bet365 (3 places) – 1pt EW
Noel Meade’s Pinkerton is my fancy in this weekend’s feature handicap, but let’s start with whether he’s a likely runner.
In an article published in The Irish Field on Monday, Meade said “he’s a probable runner” and there’s “a good chance he’ll run” if his Tuesday morning work went well.
For more information, click here to view the full article on The Irish Field website.
He also mentioned that his bloods were a bit off a few weeks ago, so they were sorting out a few tests.
Hopefully, they come back positively, because if all is okay, I can see a market move occurring here.
His last two dives into handicap company saw him win, the latest occurring in July when landing the Galway Plate.
The company he held here when beating the likes of Duffle Coat, Zanahiyr, Life In The Park, Chemical Energy, Lets Go Champ, Hurricane Georgie, Perceval Legallois, Amirite, and Idas Boy is strong, potentially stronger than many British-trained horses in here.
Furthermore, on a direct line through form, finishing eight-and-a-half lengths ahead of Lets Go Champ, who went on to finish a six-length third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, puts him right there with Il Ridoto, Ga Law, Madara, and Fugitif.
Yes, his rating of 147 is nine pounds higher than that last winning mark, but the British handicapper gave him no raise for travelling over the Irish Sea, which is kind.
Can he defy this career-high mark of 147?
Quite simply, I believe so.
As a novice hurdler, he mixed it with Journey With Me (rated 160) and as a novice chaser, he finished behind Imagine (rated 144) and Inothewayurthinkin (rated 158) on his chase debut.
On his chase handicap debut, he even beat Saint Roi, Solness (two-time winner subsequently), and Path d’Oroux.
He did race off 130 that day, admittedly, so he was chucked in.
He jumped slickly and economically on his most recent run but found Found A Fifty, a Grade 1-winning novice hurdler, too good despite getting a stone in weight from the winner.
Found A Fifty went on to win another Grade 2 under a penalty to frank the form partially.
Although he wouldn’t want rattling fast ground, the drying conditions at Prestbury Park should help him nicely. He won on good in the Galway Plate and yielding at the Punchestown Festival.
He looks to have a good chance here in what looks like a competitive race.
