More Of That looks pure Gold in Saturday showpiece at Cheltenham
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More Of That handicapped to strike at Cheltenham in ante post tips
The big race of the weekend is the Betvictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday (14:25), and More Of That looks potentially thrown-in at the weights and worth a wager at the odds on offer to land a typically fierce renewal of the extended 2m 4f contest.
Trained by Jonjo O’Neill, the gelding progressed at a rate of knots in 2013/14 when unbeaten in four starts.
In the last of those, More Of That travelled well throughout, before staying on strongly after the last to win going away by 1 1/2 lengths from Annie Power in the Grade 1 World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Performance which oozed class
That is the only time that Willie Mullins’ brilliant mare and subsequent 2016 Champion Hurdle winner has tasted defeat in 17 starts when she has stood on her feet.
It was a performance right out of the top drawer which oozed class, and one which marked More Of That out as something very special.
More Of That then suffered a shock defeat when a well beaten third in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and was off the track for a lengthy spell after being found to have suffered an injury.
Impressive start to chasing career
However, he looked as good as ever and a potential superstar chaser in the making when winning his two starts over the larger obstacles last season.
Both those successes came at this venue, and in the last of them the eight-year-old jumped really well and pulled readily clear to beat Sametegal by 13 lengths.
It was a most taking performance and the runner-up has since come out and won a competitive handicap chase at Newbury to give the form a solid look.
More Of That has also shown an ability to be clever at a fence when meeting one on a wrong stride and, although only third in the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival when last seen in action, he ran better than the bare result suggests after breaking a blood vessel.
The son of Beneficial now has his first start in handicap company over fences off a mark of 154, a whopping 13lb lower than his hurdle rating.
Course form a big plus
It gives More Of That outstanding claims at the weights at a track where he has a tremendous record, having won four of his five starts.
Although he has a lengthy absence to overcome, the selection has a good record fresh and is sure to be primed to the minute by O’Neill.
The Jackdaws Castle handler is a master at getting one ready for a big prize like this, especially when they carry the famous green and gold colours of leading Irish owner J P McManus.
More Of That also goes extremely well for jockey Barry Geraghty, who is three from four on him, and everything looks in place for a huge run.
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