2020 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Tips - Odds, trends and tips for Cheltenham's big handicap

We've taken a look through the odds and picked out some key trends, before picking out our Caspian Caviar Gold Cup betting tips.

The big betting race on International Hurdle day at Cheltenham is the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup. This Grade Three Handicap has been won by many top-quality two-and-a-half-mile chasers, with great names like Flyingbolt, Pendil, Exotic Dancer and Frodon standing out on the roll of honour.

The field has been finalised for Saturday's ITV Racing opener, and here's how the betting for the 2020 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup currently stands.

The best prep-race for the Caspian Caviar is the Paddy Power Gold Cup, so it's no surprise to see many of the horses who ran in that race at Cheltenham last month entered up again. 

Coole Cody made all to win that Grade Three, but he's been shoved up the ratings by five pounds for that win, and only the great Exotic Dancer has managed to do the Paddy Power, Caspian Caviar double.

Al Dancer was my selection that day, but could only finish fifth. Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge jumped and travelled well that day, I just think it was the weight that stopped him winning, and Al Dancer will have to carry an extra pound on his back this weekend.

Harry Cobden will ride top-weight Master Tommytucker into battle, but I think winning under that burden would be a big ask, especially when you consider he's never experienced Cheltenham before.

Saint Sonnet was fancied to run well, but a mistake at the third-last ruined his rhythm and Paul Nicholls' charge came down at the final flight. Harry Cobden's mount has seemed to enjoy Cheltenham on either of his visits, and no five-year-old has ever won the Caspian Caviar.

Norther raider Windsor Avenue is making his debut around Cheltenham. Brian Ellison's eight-year-old is also making his handicap debut, having face nothing more than fields of six over fences so far, so a large-field, Chaotic race like this may come as quite a shock.

Cepage finished fourth off this mark 12 months ago. Venetia Williams has gotten a prep-run into his last year, and Cepage is forced to come here fresh this time around. I'd rather back a horse with race-fitness on their side.

Musical Slave ran a cracker behind Clondaw Castle at Newbury, considering he was hampered early and made a couple of late errors. He still looks well-handicapped and I can see why he's been heavily backed since the decs came in. A lack of experience around Cheltenham worries me though.

Dipper winner Midnight Shadow blew up down the home straight on his return in the Old Roan, but often comes on for his first run of the season and doesn't look badly treated. Neither does Southfield Stone, who's won well here this season. However, after my initial selection, Sky Pirate didn't make the cut, I'm going to come down on the side of GOOD BOY BOBBY.

Nigel Twiston-Davies' star won well on his reappearance, beating a future winner in Antunes over two miles at Bangor. Good Boy Bobby then went down to Master Tommytucker up at Haydock. Yet, that galloping track with it's extended run to the line really suited the winner. Plus, they were running off level weights that day, and Master Tommytucker will have to give his rival 11-pounds this time around.

Good Boy Bobby tried to give Mister Fisher five-pounds in the Ryman's Novices' Chase at this meeting 12 months ago, and was still leading jumping the last, before Mister Fisher displayed a superior turn-of-foot to put that race to bed. 

Considering he's run-up to RPRs between 150 and 157 on four of his six starts over fences, this opening handicap mark of 146 looks pretty lenient. Good Boy Bobby has decent course form and a seasonal win in the bag and his trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies known exactly what it takes to win the Caspian Caviar, having saddled another seven-year-old, Double Ross before he won in 2013.