The big jump racing handicaps come on a weekly basis over the coming months starting tomorrow with the Paddy Power gold cup at Cheltenham.

This handicap chase is run over the intermediate distance of two and a half miles around the old course. A field of 15 runners go to post with some bookies offering 5 places.

Galahad Quest is a horse we backed last season when placing in similar contests at this racecourse. I think he should go well following a nice prep run at Chepstow when hampered by a faller at the second last fence. Galahad Quest jumped nicely at Chepstow and has a decent chance off his current mark of 131 with 10-3 on his back. Last season he ran a cracker to finish second behind a very well handicapped horse in Torn and Frayed over 2m4.5f on the new course on Cheltenham trials day. David Noonan knows this horse very well and hopefully he can get a position near the front end.

Dan Skelton runs a young chaser in Midnight River who might just get away with the ground such is his good jumping. He really impressed at Stratford winning by 25l only 16 days ago. This horse has some good hurdling form to his name such as finishing a close fifth in a Grade 2 novice hurdle race at Warwick when a mistake over the last hurdle arguable cost him the win. Dan didn’t over race Midnight River last season as a novice. He beat Pay The Piper at Wetherby last Christmas and finished third at Uttoxeter behind Saint Palais when not seeing out that 3m race on soft. Midnight River has a nice weight of 11-3 and should stay up the stiff hill finish strongly for Harry Skelton.

Of the rest it is dangerous to ignore the 5yo french bred Il Ridoto for bang in form champion trainer Paul Nicholls as well as proven course runner Stolen Silver.

Cheltenham 2:20

0.5 point each way Galahad Quest 11/1 Paddy Power & William Hill, both 5 places.

0.5 point each way Midnight River 12/1 Bet365 5 places else 10/1 Paddy Power & Betfair SB, both 5 places.

Compare Odds at https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing

Best of Luck,

Nicky