BetVictor London Gold Cup Heritage Handicap Tips, Trends, & Analysis (20/05/23)

The London Gold Cup is a Heritage Handicap that is run at Newbury Racecourse in May of each year, the race is restricted to runners who are three and is contested over a distance of one mile and two furlongs.

The race usually attracts a decent field and carries a valuable prize fund of over £50k for the three-year-olds early in the flat season, however, the race is more often than not won by one of the fancied runners towards the head of the market.

Below, I have provided my BetVictor London Gold Cup Heritage Handicap Tips, Trends, & Analysis for this year’s renewal.

Bold Act

Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: William Buick

Was sent off as favourite for a listed race won by Canberra Legend at Newmarket a month ago. This drop in class is certainly in his favour but the form of that last race has so far to show any signs of working out. A big weight here does him no favours, but the last time he contested a handicap, he won it. It would be foolish to rule him out on the basis of that last performance but he needs to improve again.

Bertinelli

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore

Made his comeback at Cork where he finished a fair runner-up to Alder over this ten-furlong trip. He is fully entitled to come on for the run and could well be seen to better effect here. Ryan Moore is once again on board and the horse will certainly benefit from his experience. Bertinelli makes his handicap debut this afternoon and seemingly has a positive draw in stall ten. The yard is in and out of form but he has to be respected.

Exoplanet

Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: Jack Mitchell

Had no response to Military Order when beaten four lengths by the leading Derby contender over this course and distance last time and the yard won this with Defoe back in 2017. That was his first attempt at the trip and the form has been franked by Chesspiece who won next time out at York. He too is fully entitled to come on for his first run in what was over six months. Jack Mitchell is back on board but a little concerned that the yard has failed to find a winner from their last 20 runners.

Royal Rhyme

Trainer: Karl Burke
Jockey: Clifford Lee

Has been in good form since making his seasonal reappearance at Kempton in April. He has built on each appearance and got off the mark for the first time this year when trying this trip for the first time last time out. He saw off the attentions of the Jack Channon trained Rathgar and looks likely to put in another solid performance. Clifford Lee arrived late on the scene with him last time and will hope there is plenty of pace on here in order to repeat the same tactic.

Desert Hero

Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Tom Marquand

This royal runner made a winning final appearance at Redcar last season at a trip just short of this. Having won on his debut last year he was swiftly upped in grade and finished third in the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown in August. The form of his last race has not really worked out so it seems he needs to improve further. He still holds a Derby entry but he needs to take another step forward here to justify those expectations.

Mr Mistoffelees

Trainer: Hughie Morrison
Jockey: Rossa Ryan

Needs to take another progressive step forward as he only managed to finish sixth behind Indestructible at Newmarket over a mile last time. This drop in grade will be much welcomed but he may well take to handicapping for his shrewd handler. This does look tough though and he could well benefit from another drop in class.

Forca Timao

Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Kevin Stott

Sent off as an unconsidered 50/1 shot at Newmarket on his seasonal reappearance and he ran as though he would benefit from the outing. He trailed in some seven lengths behind the Castle Way in a listed contest. A drop in grade will certainly be beneficial to him but he still has questions to answer nonetheless.

Lieber Power

Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Oisin Murphy

Andrew Balding won this race with Expense Claim back in 2013 and looks to have another good chance of doing so here with Lieber Power. He looked to be very much in need of the run when last seen out at Kempton a couple of months ago and this step up to a mile-and-a-quarter should suit. The yard is in terrific form at present and Oisin Murphy is riding like a man possessed. A return to turf is likely to be appreciated and has live each way claims.

Loyal Touch

Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Jockey: Frankie Dettori

Makes his seasonal reappearance here following a fruitful juvenile campaign where he picked up wins at Carlisle and Kempton. Mark Johnston landed this race with Communique back in 2018 and his son Charlie will be hoping for a big run with this talented son of No Nay Never. The yard’s runners are always respected when stepping up in trip and this is no exception. Frankie Dettori takes the reins in what is his final season and they could go well especially on this fast ground.

Have Secret

Trainer: Richard Fahey
Jockey: Andrea Atzeni

Another being thrown in at the deep end as he makes his seasonal reappearance after more than six months away from the track. He enjoyed a profitable two-year-old campaign at Haydock and Nottingham in lower grade handicaps. Whilst the yard is in good form this may well prove a step too far for the Havana Gold gelding. Likely to improve further but may well need this run to tee himself up for another exciting year.

Cool Party

Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Jockey: Franny Norton

Looks to be very much the stable second string based on jockey bookings. This son of Postponed has form to find with the re-opposing Royal Rhyme and needs to turn around a seven-length deficit from their previous encounter at Newmarket over this trip. He could well be used as a pacemaker for his stablemate Loyal Touch and will have better chances in other races this season.

Old Smoke

Trainer: Richard Fahey
Jockey: George Rooke

Got off the mark for the first time when scoring at Thirsk over a mile last time but much more will be needed over what will be an extra two-furlongs for him. He comes into this fully fit though and if seeing out the trip could well surprise a few. The booking of George Rooke certainly takes the eye as this is his first ever ride for Richard Fahey having enjoyed plenty of success for Richard Hughes and Hughie Morrison amongst countless others.

Silver Sword

Trainer: Dylan Cunha
Jockey: Greg Cheyne

Seems to be a bit of a quirky character having refused to race in the first two starts of his juvenile campaign. He got better with experience though and made a winning seasonal reappearance at Southwell last time for this same combination. He is closely matched with Exoplanet based on their respective previous encounters with Military Order. This is a massive leap in class for the Dylan Cunha runner but he has proven he can be competitive at this level in the past and should outrun his odds.

Pjanoo

Trainer: Richard Spencer
Jockey: Hollie Doyle

Still a maiden after four starts and looks incredibly out of his depth in this kind of company despite the booking of Hollie Doyle. His best run came at this track last season but that was over six-furlongs. May well need this after eight  months away from the track and others are preferred.

Raintown

Trainer: Stan Moore
Jockey: Georgia Dobie (3)

Raintown won three races back-to-back on the all-weather last season and is proven at this trip. He looked to be lacking fitness on his seasonal reappearance at Goodwood where he finished five lengths behind Skysail over a mile. Fully entitled to come on for that run, he may well benefit from going back up in trip here. Georgia Dobie takes off a useful three-pounds and a big run cannot be ruled out.

Ithaca’s Arrow

Trainer: Dominic Ffrench-Davis
Jockey: Rose Dawes (3)

Ithaca’s Arrow stays this trip and further and made a winning seasonal reappearance at Lingfield just a fortnight ago. This is a massive hike in grade for the son of Ulysses and despite getting lumps of weight from his rivals, he looks to be completely out of his depth. He will certainly try and give a bold account from the front, but he should expect to see much lesser exposed types pass him in the closing stages.

Betting Forecast: 4/1 Desert Hero, 5/1 Exoplanet, 6/1 Royal Rhyme, 7/1 Bertinelli, 8/1 Bold Act, 8/1 Lieber Power, 14/1 Have Secret, 14/1 Loyal Touch, 14/1 Silver Sword, 16/1 Mr Mistoffelees, 20/1 Pjanoo, 20/1 Old Smoke, 25/1 Forca Timao, 33/1 Cool Party, 33/1 Ithaca’s Arrow, 50/1 Raintown

BetVictor London Gold Cup Heritage Handicap Tips

The Andrew Balding team can do very little wrong at present and LIEBER POWER could well prove to be the answer for him and Oisin Murphy. He has every right to improve on what we saw from him at Kempton races a couple of months ago and will likely appreciate this extra yardage too. Desert Hero will be well fancied given that he won last time out but the form has been let down on multiple occasions and the unexposed Exoplanet could well be the chief danger. Another good effort is expected from Loyal Touch who may well thrive over this ten-furlong trip.

1. LIEBER POWER E/W
2. EXOPLANET
3. LOYAL TOUCH