Here’s your Gold Cup preview, on the eve of the Cheltenham Gold Cup Race, Long Run has joined Imperial Commander at the head of Ladbrokes’ Cheltenham Gold Cup market, with a favoritism of 9/2. Next in line are Denman and Kauto Star, Paul Nicholls’ trained pair of former winners with odds of 6/1, who reportedly could deliver a surprising twist at the top of the betting market.

David Williams, of Ladbrokes’ Public Relations team has said: “If the punters decide that either Kauto Star and Denman have got a grand hurrah in them, they’ll be backed off the boards. Imperial Commander has looked rock solid at the top of the betting for ages but all of a sudden it’s got a whole lot more interesting.”

The Cheltenham Gold Cup, a race second only to the Grand National in terms of betting interest, is estimated to be worth over £40 million to the betting industry.

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL MARKETS for Friday, March 18th, 2011