Cheltenham Festival 2015: Gold Cup Preview (15:20)

This year’s renewal of the Cheltenham Gold Cup (15:20) is a wide open affair, and Carlingford Lough is taken to provide jockey Tony McCoy with a winner in his last ever ride in the contest.

The John Kiely trained nine-year-old provided McCoy with his first victory in the Irish Hennessy last month, the the day after he announced that he will retire at the end of this season, and has a progressive profile.

McCoy has chosen Carlingford Lough over Holywell, although it’s no great surprise considering the former is owned by his great friend JP McManus for whom he has been a retained rider since 2004.

Carlingford Lough has a similar profile to Synchronised, who McCoy partnered to victory for McManus in the 2012 Gold Cup, in that he is a dour stayer who needs nudging and cajoling into his races, and heads for into the contest of the back of a career-best performance.

Synchronised showed improved form to win the Lexus before triumphing at Cheltenham, and Carlingford Lough’s win in the Hennessy was a huge step forward on what he had previously shown.

Nine year olds also have a good recent record in the 3m 2f contest, having won three of the last six runnings, and Carlingford Lough looks to have major claims of providing McCoy with his third winner in chasing’s blue riband event.

Dual King George VI chase winner Silviniaco Conti bids to provide champion trainer Paul Nicholls with his fifth winner of the race, but he has failed in two previous attempts in the 3m 2f contest, and could prove vulnerable once again on ground which may be quicker than ideal.