Cheltenham - Get in the "Know" each-way (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Cheltenham - Get in the "Know" each-way

6:50pm Thursday 13th March 2008

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KAUTO Star or Denman for the Gold Cup - but is the Cheltenham showpieice really such a simple choice?

The pre-race hype has made this a two-horse race and on the form book who is to argue. But when rivals have their focus pinned on each other, a gap opens for someone to take advantage.

This may seemed a far-fetched scenario but here's an interesting fact: Neptune Collonges ran third to KNOWHERE at Cheltenham and then came out to win a very good race - hoisting his rating up about 10lb.

On a literal reading of the form - using the new rating - Knowhere can be theoretically rated about the equal of Denman (and about 5lb inferior to Kauto Star).

Nigel Twiston-Davis's charge beat Old Vic emphatically last time on this course (another boost) and if that horse has run well at Thursday's meeting, then Knowhere's odds will shorten up.

It's very much a longshot that Knowhere can hustle up the two "big guns", but if he does then looking back you will have to agree the evidence was there all along. Small each-way for the punting philosphers this one.

Lots of bets at a stupendous final day and best advice seems to point to AIGLE D'OR (1.05) for Nick Henderson after Punjabi's great run in the Champion.

CELESTIAL HALO looks well up to standard for Paul Nicholls in the Triumph Hurdle (2.15), while Penrith-based Nicky Richards is on record as saying MIDDLETON DENE (2.50) is his best chance of a winner at the meeting.

Other fancied contenders are PSYCHO in the final race on the card and improving MENDO (1.40).

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