The first major trophy of the national hunt season takes place this weekend as Cheltenham stage their prestigious curtain-raising Cheltenham November Meeting, featuring The Paddy Power Gold Cup.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls will be hoping for another bold run from last year’s winner Il Ridoto. We check out the front runners and best bets for this premier handicap on Saturday. Top odds provided by our partner firms Bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred and Boylesports.
The Big Players
Jagwar
This Oliver Greenall trained six year old is unsurprisingly a worthy market leader considering his impressive Plate victory at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, despite some questionable jumping.
However, he persevered and won the handicap in some style. He always brings his A game to this track and will take some beating if he replicates the Plate form. Nevertheless, he carries top weight, and this will take some doing with the desperate going predicted for this weekend. Twenty millimetres of rain is expected on Friday. Best odds of 4/1 with Bet365 and William Hill.
Vincenzo
Mighty consistent seven-year-old trained by Sam Thomas. Performs well in handicaps around 2m 4-furlong mark and was especially impressive in a handicap last March at Newbury. However, he is not the kind of horse that runs to his best when fresh so best watched this time. Will certainly be in the mix if back to his best. Top odds of 11/2 with William Hill.
Panic Attack
This lightly raced Dan Skelton trained nine-year-old comes into this on the back of some decent handicap performances but will need to step up further to feature prominently in this.
However, the Skeltons have a great record with getting ordinary horses primed for this kind of contest so he should not be discounted. Top odds of 6/1 with bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred and Boylesports.
Il Ridoto
This Paul Nicholls trained previous winner of the race has slid a little down the handicap due to some below par performances since his gutsy win from last year. However, he does come to the fore in this race having been placed also on top of his win.
He comes here with match fitness also after an encouraging run at Chepstow last month. Others preferred, however. Top odds of 6/1 with William Hill.
Thecompanysergeant
Gavin Cromwell’s Thecompanysergeant certainly enters each way calculations especially as he chased Jagwar all the way to the line in the Plate race back at The Cheltenham Festival last season.
He was travelling well in the Kerry National back in September until a mistake at the tenth. He should see out the trip and obviously comes with match fitness. Top odds of 10/1 with Bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred and Boylesports.
The Rest
Hoe Joly Smoke (12/1 Bet365, William Hill and Betfred) stayed on well for the Skeltons at the Showcase Meeting at Cheltenham in a handicap over three miles whilst Conyers Hill (14/1 Bet365, William Hill, Boylesports) should come on from two decent runs at Listowel and Fairyhouse.
However, with the ground conditions starting to look pretty desperate for Saturday’s premier handicap, it is always prudent to latch onto a Venetia Williams charge who all seem to relish cut in the ground. Hunter Legend notched up three wins in lower handicap company last season and looks well handicapped to be in with a sneak for this renewal of the Paddy Power Gold cup.
Hunter Legend has best odds of 16/1 with William Hill.
Verdict
Race favourite Jagwar has plenty going for him although the top weight billing is a considerable concern. Vincenzo brings consistency although with a poor win strike rate whilst Panic Attack, last year’s winner Il Ridoto and Thecompanysergeant all have viable claims on paper.
However, with the ground predicted to receive a good soaking on Friday, the going could become very testing indeed. This opens the door for a number of entries especially the Venetia Williams trained horse Hunter Legend of which the stable has an excellent strike rate with cut in the ground: he is our selection to land Venetia Williams a first Paddy Power Gold Cup victory since The Outback Way obliged back in 1999.
SELECTION: HUNTER LEGEND EACH WAY 16/1 with William Hill.
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