Trainer Paul Nicholls has an incredible record in the Grade 3 Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase and Secret Investor looks to hold outstanding claims of further enhancing it with victory in the 2m 4f feature contest at Newbury on Saturday (15:15).
The Ditcheat handler has won nine of the 16 runnings of the race.
In Secret Investor, he has an eight-year-old who developed into a smart novice chaser last season when winning two of his four starts.
During the second of those at Ayr, the son of Kayf Tara overcame mistakes four out and two from home before keeping on strongly to land a Grade 2 contest by 2 3/4 lengths.
It was a performance which suggested there was better to come.
There was lots to like about Secret Investor’s return to action in November when second to Real Steal, who has since beaten the very smart Footpad, in a Grade 2 at Down Royal.
Secret Investor then failed to shine when a well-beaten 10th of 18 to Warthog in the valuable Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
However, following a break, he has shown that running to be all wrong here earlier this month when chasing home 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River in the Grade 2 Denman Chase off an official rating of 149.
Denman form strong
Although never able to land a blow on the all-the-way winner, Secret Investor stuck to the task well to be beaten just 2 2/4 lengths by a rival rated 19lb his superior.
He was receiving just 4lb from Colin Tizzard’s charge and pulled 7 1/2 lengths clear of the third home Might Bite, who was rated 163 going into the contest. That gives form a solid look.
A 4lb rise in his rating to 153 looks lenient, given that it was a career-best performance.
It makes Secret Investor look well-treated now dropped back down in trip and grade, despite having to shoulder top weight of 11st 12lb.
He also has a 33 per cent strike rate over the trip, handles the forecast underfoot conditions and hails from a red-hot yard that is operating at a 38 per cent strike rate in the last 14 days at the time of writing.
With promising young rider Lorcan Williams also taking off a handy 3lb with his claim, there
is simply nothing not to like about Secret Investor’s profile for this.
Hence, at 7/1 with William Hill, he very much looks the one to be on.
Bennys King a big player for Skelton
Dan Skelton will be hoping to deny his former boss Nicholls a 10th win in the Greatwood Gold Cup with his sole representative Bennys King.
The nine-year-old has won three of his seven starts over fences, and was impressive in the last of those over this course and distance in the 15-runner Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase when beating Sametegal.
After travelling sweetly on the heels of the leaders, Bennys King took up the running at the 13th. He then overcame a mistake at the fourth last and only had to be driven out to score comfortably by six lengths.
The son of Beneficial now has to race off 17lb higher, but his proven course form is a plus. Skelton has also made no secret of the fact that the Greatwood Gold Cup has been his target.
Bennys King also comes into the race on the back of a cracking neck second to Domaine De L’lsle at Ascot in a decent eight-runner contest. He now meets the winner on 2lb better terms.
That should be more than enough to see him gain revenge on that rival and a bold bid to go one better looks assured.
Bennys King also appeals as the type that has more to offer, so rates the main danger to Secret Investor. He can be backed at 8/1 with Coral to notch a fifth career success.
Clondaw Castle another with Greatwood Gold Cup claims
Clondaw Castle is a progressive sort who hails from a yard in good nick, so is another well worth considering in a typically wide-open and fierce renewal of the Greatwood Gold Cup.
This Tom George trained eight-year-old has won three of his nine starts over fences and was far from disgraced at last year’s Cheltenham Festival when a 19 1/2 lengths fourth of 12 to Duc Des Genievres in the Arkle.
He has had just three starts this season and ran a blinder on the first of those when a half-length second to Diego Du Charmil in a Listed handicap at Ascot off a mark of 144.
Clondaw Castle now has to race off 5lb higher, but comes into the race having resumed winning ways in good style at Warwick.
After being held-up in the early stages, the son of Oscar made stealthy headway to throw down a challenge two from home.
Clondaw Castle then got put on the backfoot with a mistake at that obstacle, but quickly recovered and, after taking up the running approaching the last, drew clear on the run-in to readily beat Two Taffs by just over four lengths.
It was a most taking display. He is fully expected to confirm the form with the fourth home Gala Ball despite now meeting that rival on worse terms.
A 6lb rise in the weights makes things tougher, but Clondaw Castle could still be well-treated off his revised rating of 149 – judged on his aforementioned run in the Arkle which showed he had a touch of class.
He is also 1-1 over the trip of this, so makes plenty of each-way appeal at the 15/2 on offer with Unibet here.
