2m Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (Class 1)
It's a race that throws up plenty of surprises with 16/1, 18/1 and 66/1 winners in the last few years. The top of the betting is dominated by the Irish yards with Embittered and Entoucas both appearing to be well-in on their British ratings.
But whilst Embittered is feared he doesn't tend to see out his races particularly well including his 3rd in the County Hurdle last year and Entoucas has the horrible knack of not quite being able to get his head in front.
It's possible that Zanza could be one of the best handicapped horses in the race, but we will never know how he would have performed had he not fallen three out here behind Sky Pirate in December.
So I am going to take a chance on a big improver this season that looks to have gone slightly under the radar for the bang in-form Dan Skelton, who seems to be training handicap-winners left, right and centre.
AMOOLA GOLD is currently 16/1 for this contest, yet has very strong form this season with figures reading 1122. He rattled off two opening wins this campaign, the second of which helped him to finish ahead of Ibleo, who he's now 8lbs better off with yet is more than twice the price. Similarly, his last run behind Sky Pirate saw him get tapped for speed over a tight flat track at Warwick having put in one hell of gutsy fight. Amoola Gold is also now 4lbs better off with that rival who is currently 7/1 here.
Any way you look at it, he seems to be overpriced against the market principals particularly as he wants a fast pace to aim at and a stiff finish to bring out his stamina which almost helped him to claim victory on his penultimate start finishing a neck second to subsequent Group 1 winner First Flow, who has been dominant in the two mile division this season.
Both of Amoola Gold's last two runs in defeat have been arguably career bests and the tactics of this race should really suit as I can see him gobbling up the Cheltenham hill after a strong gallop so he's definite each-way material.
1pt each-way Amoola Gold @16/1, 16:15 Cheltenham, Wednesday (1-6 places, 1/5 odds with Skybet)