Paddy Power Gold Cup Fancies
The feature handicap chase is the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham this afternoon. We back two against teh field as the bookies are generously offering extra places.
Notlongtillmay finished runner up to Stage Star in the Turners Novices chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He looked the faster horse passing Stage Star down the hill only too lose a place up the long climb to the finish line. That race was on the more galloping new course and I think he will prefer the tighter circuit on the old course tomorrow. He meets Stage Star on 3lbs better terms and has had a run already this season.
I like that he prepped over two miles here on good ground last month and will enjoy going back out in trip to two and a half miles. He likes to race prominently but can sit in behind the leaders. This horse is a much better chaser than hurdler with three wins from five runs and one of those in a Grade 1. Jockey Adam Wedge rides him well and I think he will run a big race carrying 11-4 thanks to The Real Whacker running off top weight.
Il Ridoto looks well handicapped thanks to Freddie Gingell claiming 5lbs. This horse faded late when finishing fourth in this race last year when rated 140. Paul Nicholls will have him fit and ready and he is a proven big handicap performer. He ran four times in similar handicaps at Cheltenham last season with a record of 4416.
He won on Cheltenham Trials day last January over 2m4.5f proving he stays well. Both, Il Ridoto and Fugitif jumped the final fence in unison that day before Il Ridoto got on top near the line. The runner up went on to finish second in the Byrne Plate at the Festival where Il Ridoto ran a little below his best. I just think he has a super chance if ridden prominently as he is set to carry a featherweight of 10-5.
Cheltenham – 2:20
0.5 point each way Notlongtillmay 13/2 Bet365 else 6/1 William Hill & Betway, all 5 places.
0.5 point each way Il Ridoto 10/1 generally, use bookie paying 5 places.
Past Results
Click to see past Big Saturday Race Preview Tips results
The Paddy Power Gold Cup is a Premier Handicap National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs (2 miles 4 furlongs and 44 yards, or 4,064 metres), and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid November.
The event was established in 1960, and it was originally sponsored by Mackeson. It was known as the Mackeson Gold Cup until 1995, but since then it has had various sponsors and several title changes. It was backed by Murphy's from 1996, and by Thomas Pink from 2000. The bookmaker Paddy Power began supporting the race in 2003 and their sponsorship continued until the 2015 running. In 2016 the sponsorship was taken over by another bookmaking firm BetVictor.[1] Paddy Power returned for a second period of sponsorship in 2020.
Winners over past 10 years
| Year | Winner | Age | Weight | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Ga Law | 6 | 11-00 | Jonathan Burke | Jamie Snowden |
| 2021 | Midnight Shadow | 8 | 11-05 | Ryan Mania | Sue Smith |
| 2020 | Coole Cody | 9 | 10-05 | Tom O'Brien | Evan Williams |
| 2019 | Happy Diva | 8 | 11-00 | Richard Patrick | Kerry Lee |
| 2018 | Baron Alco | 7 | 10-11 | Jamie Moore | Gary Moore |
| 2017 | Splash Of Ginge | 9 | 10–06 | Tom Bellamy | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2016 | Taquin du Seuil | 9 | 11–11 | Aidan Coleman | Jonjo O'Neill |
| 2015 | Annacotty | 7 | 11-00 | Ian Popham | Alan King |
| 2014 | Caid Du Berlais | 5 | 10–13 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Paul Nicholls |
| 2013 | Johns Spirit | 6 | 10-02 | Richie McLernon | Jonjo O'Neill |
Best of Luck,
Nicky