Cheltenham Heroes: Why you’d be mad not to back Bobs Worth

There are not many horses that can lay greater claim to being a Cheltenham hero than Bobs Worth, and you’d be mad not to back last year’s Gold Cup winner in Today’s meeting.

Victories have been landed on all five career visits to Prestbury Park, with punters rewarded at a range of starting prices from 15/8 to 9/2.

It has been his strengths of perseverance up the Cheltenham hill that have largely moulded the hero status of Bobs Worth and brought him successes at the last three Festivals.

Interestingly, the manner of these victories have also been somewhat similar. Taking the bend into the home straight fairly wide on the toes of the lead, before taking the final flight in front and then moving away from the opposition in the run up to the line.

Mossley was the chaser home in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle in 2011, First Lieutenant ran Bobs Worth close in the RSA Chase the following year, while Sir Des Champs was out-battled in the Cheltenham Gold Cup 12 months ago.

Preparations have not gone perfectly for Bobs Worth as he attempts to become the first horse in a decade to win back-to-back Gold Cups, after finishing out of the each-way places for the first time in his career in the Betfair Chase – 40 lengths behind Cue Card.

Barry Geraghty stated after that the ground was softer than ideal and the track on the sharper side, while Bobs Worth would also come on for the run.

This all came true over Christmas as Bobs Worth again relished a battle, this time in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown, to seal victory with a turn of pace after the final fence.

Statistics in his favour include his age, as nine-year-olds have won more than any other age group in the last decade, while favourites have triumphed in six of the last 10 renewals.

Bobs Worth may not be the last horse off the bridle in Today’s Gold Cup, but if he is still bang on contention arriving at the final flight, there is no other horse that punters should want their money on.