Triolo D’Alene given Gold Cup go-ahead

Triolo D’Alene is set to take his chance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup after delighting connections in his latest workout, and Coral have cut him to 20/1 (from 33s) for the 3m 2f showpiece on the final day of the Festival.

The gelding landed last year’s Topham Chase at Aintree, and notched the biggest success of his career last time out when beating Rocky Creek in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

The latter has proved a good stepping stone for the Gold Cup, and was won by his stable companion Bobs Worth in 2012 before victory in the big one last year.

Other horses to have won both include Arkle, Bregawn, Burrough Hill Lad, and Denman.

Triolo D’Alene is not yet in the same class as those horses, but he has a progressive profile and is still only a seven-year-old and open to further improvement.

Horses of his age group have also fared well in the Gold Cup, with four winning in the last 12 runnings of the race. The last to do so was Kauto Star in 2007.

He held three entries at the Festival, but his final piece of serious work convinced connections that the Gold Cup was the best option en route to a crack at the Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree.

Henderson said: “He’s very good. We were delighted with him. He worked really well. He’s got to go somewhere, and the Gold Cup looks a wide-open race this year.”

Bobs Worth, the current 7/4 favourite with Coral for the Gold Cup, also worked well and was said to be in “very good nick” by the Seven Barrows handler ahead of the defence of his crown on Friday, March 14th.

Henderson has also confirmed that runaway Doncaster scorer Vaniteux will take his chance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

He is now a 14/1 (from 20s) with Coral for the 2m contest which gets the Festival underway on Tuesday, March 11th.