Cheltenham December Gold Cup: Timeform's runner-by-runner guide

Paul Nicholls' Unioniste has just made it into the race

Timeform examine each runner in Saturday's Paul Stewart Ironspine Charity Challenge Gold Cup at Cheltenham ...

Wishfull Thinking's overall record is patchy, though fair record at Cheltenham, winning again in 2m conditions event here last month. Trip fine, but plenty on his plate now off top weight.

Cristal Bonus is a promising second-season chaser who made fine return when winning 2m Grade 2 at Down Royal. Never been a factor in 3 previous runs (2 over hurdles) at Cheltenham but remains unexposed.

Quantitativeeasing kept mistakes to a minimum to land this off 8 lb lower 12 months ago but has struggled since, admittedly possibly needing last month's return in the Paddy Power. Questions to answer.

Walkon produced a fine effort on return to chase home Al Ferof in the Paddy Power here and just 5 lb higher. Didn't go on from promising reappearances previous 2 seasons which tempers enthusiasm a bit.

Tatenen won valuable 21f handicap for second successive year at Ascot in January. Has gone well fresh before, and would be most popular winner here, but looks a shade too high in the weights at present.

Tartak has twice finished fourth in the Melling Chase and respectable return behind Nadiya de La Vega here, jumping soundly. No banker to build on that, though 4 lb lower than last winning mark over C&D.

Nadiya de La Vega continued her good record fresh in landing hotly-contested 2m handicap here in October and another good run under McCoy when third in the Paddy Power. Unexposed at this sort of trip

Astracad is better over fences than hurdles, and won a competitive 17f handicap at this meeting last year. Let down by jumping on return but could have come on for that and not dismissed

Notus de La Tour is a useful hurdler who hacked up in a couple of 2m novice chases early last season. Early faller at the Festival when last seen on just first go in a handicap over fences. Still unexposed.

Micheal Flips is better over fences than hurdles and has had excuses for this seasons defeats in good handicaps, inadequate test (17f) latest. Needs to cut out the mistakes.

Renard won 4 handicap chases at up to 2m last term but stays this far. Looked beaten on merit at Newbury last time, though, and questionable whether he can defy current mark in race this competitive.

Golden Chieftain was an impressive winner of 2m Worcester handicap chase in October and shaped well before stamina gave way over 25f at Wincanton. 4 lb drop and fitting of tongue tie makes him of interest.

Divers - NON-RUNNER.

De Boitron is a hold-up performer who hasn't won since landing 2m conditionals handicap chase here in April 2010. Merely plodded on in third on last month's return and opposed over this sort of trip.

Kingsmere won over fences at Cartmel and Stratford in summer and has shaped very well twice here subsequently, racing up with pace in testing conditions for long way in Paddy Power. Interesting.

Hell's Bay is a useful hurdler/chaser who has been unable to rediscover form since returning from injury, remote second of 2 finishers at Kempton on return for new trainer last month. Difficult to assess.

Have You Seen Me is an exuberant jumper who was a good second over C&D when last seen in April 2011. Bit to find from out of the handicap on return but yard in good form and he's won fresh.

Unioniste is an ex-French performer who has made highly promising start for new yard with victory at Aintree and an eye-catching third behind Dynaste last time. Of major interest in handicap now.

Timeform 1-2-3
1. Unioniste
2. Notus de La Tour
3. Nadiya de La Vega

Timeform View: It's rare to see a horse as young as Unioniste land a competitive race like this but he looks a smart prospect and his stay in handicap chases could be a short one. Following an eye-catching effort here behind Dynaste last month he gets the vote over Notus de La Tour who remains one to keep on side. Nadiya de La Vega is 113 under McCoy and posted another good effort here last month.

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