BetVictor Gold Cup 2018 betting: Overlook these trainers at your peril

Over the past dozen editions of the BetVictor Gold Cup, three trainers have won Cheltenham’s November Meeting highlight on more than one occasion, making them go-to guys in the ante-post betting ahead of this year’s renewal.

Nigel Twiston-Davies (three), Paul Nicholls (two) and Jonjo O’Neill (three) have not only saddled multiple winners in that time but several placed horses too.

The entries have yet to be announced for the 2018 edition, but several of their representatives are already quoted in the ante-post odds for the two-mile-four-and-half-furlong handicap.

Below we take a look at their respective records in the race and switch you on to the bullets they could fire at this year’s renewal.

Click here to check out the latest BetVictor Gold Cup ante-post odds

Paul Nicholls

Paul Nicholl’s is one of the favourites to win in our 2018 BetVictor Gold Cup ante-post preview

Nine of the 13 horses the master of Ditcheat has sent out in the race since 2012 have finished sixth or better, with two winners, two placed horses and two fifths (a position that rewarded on-the-day each-way players at William Hill last year) among that number.

Romain De Senam (14/1), Movewiththetimes (16/1), Copain De Classe and Magic Saint (both 20/1) are already quoted in the BetVictor Gold Cup ante-post betting.

The first two are currently on official handicap marks that should allow them to be very competitive and they have several close-but-no Havana runs at Cheltenham under their belts.

The latter pair are both fascinating in different ways, with CDC winning well at Kempton on his first run back from wind surgery last Sunday and the latter yet to be tested on these shores following his summer transfer from Guillaume Macaire’s yard on the French coast.

Why not read our horse-racing accumulator tips?

Nigel Twiston-Davies

Twisters’ followers were in clover last year when Splash Of Ginge joined Little Josh, the great Imperial Commander and Tipping Tim in winning the BetVictor Gold Cup for the duffle coat devotee.

Since 2006, nine of his 16 runners in the Saturday spectacular came home fifth or closer, with more than a third (six) finishing fourth or better.

Four inmates from his Naunton HQ are already quoted in the betting ahead of the 2018 renewal: Ballyandy (16/1), Foxtail Hill (20/1), Jameson and the defending champ (both 25/1).

Of the quartet, Foxtail Hill looks by far the best handicapped on 138, 2lbs lower than when beating subsequent BetVictor third Le Prezien at Prestbury Park at the 2017 Showcase Meeting. Eighth in last year’s race off 9lb higher, he’s weighted to go well.

Click here to read our Trixie betting guide

Jonjo O’Neill

He may not have fielded any entrants in 2017, but five of the Jackdaws Castle supremo’s last 15 runners in the race dating back to 2006 (when Tony McCoy took the laurels under his Exotic Dancer) have finished fourth or better, including three of the past seven.

At the time of writing, no O’Neill runner has earned BetVictor Gold Cup ante-post quotes from the William Hill odds gurus but, after a lean season last term, he could be harbouring any number of horses ready to leave their 2017/18 form behind.

Keeping an ear to the ground vis-a-vis the two-time former champion jockey’s potential BetVictor Gold Cup runners is ad.