Bristol Rovers v Mansfield Town

The Stags are 15 th in the league and only three points above Rovers. Mansfield’s form is not good at the moment, with only one win in their last six games but, on the plus side, they do have five draws from the last twelve, important news for all “draw challenge” fans out there.

Rovers have now drawn five in six games in all competitions now, a run that is close to being Hoddle-esque. With the season effectively over it should be the time to experiment and play your kids. Should. Instead it looks like being the same old team, getting the same old result…

My tip is a 1-1 at 11/2 with Colin Larkin to get the first goal at 11/2.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup

And so to something a little less predictable than Rovers...

The Gold Cup seems to be a tad jinxed this season. First of all three-time winner Best Mate bursts a blood vessel in training, then the new ante-post favourite Kingscliff pulled out earlier this week after a poor workout. Kingscliff, the Craig Disley of National Hunt, missed last year’s Gold Cup too but a good King George VI behind Kicking King on Boxing Day and the fact that he’d never been beaten at Cheltenham had given his followers hope. At least his unbeaten record at the course will remain. Irish Challenger Rule Supreme withdrew too, in favour of Thursday’s World Hurdle, and then, tragically, Farmer Jack died of a pulmonary haemorrhage on the gallops on Wednesday morning. The Philip Hobbs-trained nine year old had been a late entry to the race last week, at a cost of £17,500, but his excellent form suggested that this was a price worth paying.

Of the remaining runners, both Kicking King and Grey Abbey have had training problems. Stamina remains a concern for Kicking King, especially with the Cheltenham hill to contend with and that, together with his preparation problems could see him edged out. That said, if he does last then he’ll be pushing for a place, if not top spot. Grey Abbey’s joint problems could yet see him pulled out, especially if the going is good but if the rain comes down hard and fast then he could just be the horse to back.

Strong Flow beat Celestial Gold last month but he had a year out after injuring himself in 2003 and this may be a step too far. It’s hard to tell as he’s not had a huge amount of racing since his return but a question mark has to remain over him.

Martin Pipe’s Celestial Gold won two big races November – the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham and the Hennessey at Newbury – and was third to Strong Flow and the late Farmer Jack on his reappearance last month. This run could be just the thing to set him up and while many punters would have overlooked him a month ago the withdrawals combined with Celestial Gold’s high cruising speed and turn of foot could set him up as a real contender.

Current favourite and Irish hope for the Gold Cup Beef or Salmon will never have a better chance to win this race. He beat Best Mate in Ireland just after Christmas, although Best Mate wasn’t in the greatest health, and he’s also beaten Kicking King this season. He had an infection and only finished second in the Irish Hennessey but reports are that he is fully over this. In the past he has made jumping errors but, even so, he is the classiest horse left in the field and must be the one to beat.

Of the rest Therealbandit is a bit of a course specialist with four Cheltenham wins under his belt. It’s hard to make a case for him in this company but, if you’re looking for an each-way chance, then this could be your horse.

VERDICT

Beef or Salmon is the horse to beat and providing he stands up he should have Irish eyes smiling.