Big-race verdict: Adrian & Owen’s 16-1 & 9-1 tips for the Racing Post Gold Cup 🏆

‘He could be a class apart’

The Nicky Henderson-trained Fusil Raffles undoubtedly has to go down as one of the luckiest winners of the season. He won the Charlie Hall Chase but was handed it on a plate after Shan Blue parted company with his rider at the last. At the time he was about 20 lengths off the winner but nonetheless his sights are lowered here back in a handicap.

Fusil Raffles is a very young chaser. Just six-year-old, the world is his oyster over fences and he won a novice contest here in the past so has that all-important course form and experience. His mark looks rather lenient to me – he is a classy operator and won’t have to worry about a Shan Blue in this field. He could be a class apart. – Adrian Wall

‘I’m mystified at the price’

Cheltenham is a unique venue and course form is essential, so I’m mystified at the price of Siruh Du Lac. His last six runs have come at Cheltenham, including a pair of course and distance victories at the start of 2019. The most recent of those successes came in the Martin Pipe at the Festival and he’s just two pounds above that mark in this.

For his two most recent runs, he’s joined David Pipe, and caught the eye over hurdles on his reappearance last time. Three miles stretched him that day, but he only weakened on the bend after tanking into proceedings. Back over fences, over his favourite trip of 2m 4f, I think he has an excellent each-way chance under Tom Scudamore. – Owen Goulding

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