The £120,000 Paddy Power Gold (2.35pm) on Saturday, November 17, has attracted 38 acceptors at the five-day confirmation stage.
Following the defection of Taranis at the head of the handicap, the weights are now headed by Billyvoddan, followed by French challenger L’Ami and Irish challenger Forget The Past, third in the 2006 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and trained by Michael O’Brien, who sent out the last Irish-trained victor Bright Highway in 1980.
Don’t Push It is currently the 4/1 favourite with Paddy Power and represents last year’s winning trainer Jonjo O’Neill, who could also be represented by Bob Hall and Fier Normand.
The 5/1 joint-second favourite is Abragante, trained by David Pipe who sent out Vodka Bleu, also engaged, to finish second last year in his first season as a trainer. Abragante was an impressive winner of the Listed Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton on Saturday, November 10, for which he incurs a 6lb penalty. With a maximum field of 20 permitted for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, Abragante needs 10 horses to drop out to make the cut for the extended two-and-a-half mile feature, while Vodka Bleu is currently number 27 in the list.
Reigning champion trainer Paul Nicholls, still seeking his first success in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, has three to choose from - Le Volfoni, New Little Bric and the unexposed Granit Jack, the other 5/1 joint second favourite with the sponsors
The Paddy Power Gold Cup has not gone to Ireland since Bright Highway was successful 27 years ago and there are seven Irish hopefuls still engaged. In addition to Forget The Past, there is the Jessica Harrington-trained Knight Legend, Ponmeoath, Arteea, Ballyagran as well as Royal County Star and The Roney Man, both trained by Tony Martin.
L’Antartique, trained by Ferdy Murphy, was most progressive last season when he landed the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase at The Festival and made a winning return to action at Carlisle on November 4, while Nicky Henderson, successful with Fondmort in 2003, has Crozan and Copsale Lad to choose from.
Knowhere was the neck winner of the Pyments Quantity Surveyors Handicap Chase at Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting on October 20 and represents local Naunton trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, who sent out the 1992 victor Tipping Tim.
OTHER SATURDAY ACTION
Saturday’s main supporting card is the £60,000 Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap (3.40pm), where there are 28 entries headed by L’Ami. Several of the best staying chaser are engaged including Simon, Dom d’Orgeval, Royal Auclair, Bob Bob Bobbin and Sir Rembrandt.
The third most-valuable race on Saturday is the £50,000 Listed Lombard Properties Handicap Hurdle (3.10pm), where the 32 entries are headed by Blazing Bailey, trained by Alan King and third in the Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle at The Festival in March.
QUALITY FRIDAY CARD
Spotthedifference, a six-time winner at Cheltenham, is among the 23 entries for the £35,000 BGC Cross Country Chase (2.30pm), the highlight of the first day of The Open, Friday, November 16.
The Enda Bolger-trained 14-year-old has been victorious in this race for the past three renewals, and was successful in the Cross Country chase at The Festival in March 2005.
Bolger has also entered Moscow Maui, and Freneys Well, who finished second to Spotthedifference in the La Touche Cup at Punchestown in April.
French trainer Francois Cottin could send over Dom Fontenail and Juful Tennis.
The home challenge might be led by Ivoire de Beaulieu, a winner of this race for trainer Ferdy Murphy at The Open in 2005. The 11-year-old recently ran in the Velka Pardubica in the Czech Republic, finishing fourth.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has entered 2005 Grand National runner-up Royal Auclair and Le Duc.
David Pipe could run Puntal, who has won twice before at Cheltenham throughout his long career.
The Nicky Henderson-trained Crozan, who fell when leading the Group Two Ryanair Chase at The Festival in March, could return to contest the £30,000 paddypower.com Graduation Chase (1.20pm) at The Open on Friday.
The seven-year-old won on his only other appearance at Cheltenham, when he was a comfortable victor of the Club 18-24 Novice Chase at The Open in November, 2005.
According To John and Dom D’Orgeval finished behind Denman in the Grade One Royal & SunAlliance Chase at The Festival last season, while David Pipe could also be represented by Over The Creek, who finished second on his latest start in the Lady Angela Rooker Memorial Beginners Chase at The Showcase in October.
Ferdy Murphy may let New Alco take his chance, and the six-year-old has a good record at Cheltenham, with placed efforts in last season’s Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase in January.
Limited Edition proved progessive for trainer Carl Llewellyn last season, and was travelling well when falling in the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase at The Festival last season.
Fundamentalist finished a close second in the paddypower.com Graduation last year, and the nine-year-old could line up for in-form trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, while Ballyfoy was runner-up in the Mark Blandford Novices Chase at Cheltenham in May.
30 GO FORWARD FOR GREATWOOD HURDLE
The David Pipe-trained Osana heads the 30 acceptors for the £100,000 Greatwood Hurdle (2.55pm), the highlight of the final day of The Open, Sunday, November 18.
The five-year-old ran with great credit on his handicap debut when finishing 10th in the Grade Three Vincent O’Brien Handicap Hurdle at The Festival in March, and finished the season with a good second in the Grade Two John Smith’s Imagine Top Novices Hurdle at Aintree in April.
Pipe could also be represented by Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap third Laustra Bad, who won on his seasonal reappearance in the Tyrconnell Single Malt Irish Whiskey Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at The Showcase in October. The progressive Nike Walker could also take his chance for the Nicholashayne-based trainer.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has entered exciting chase prospect Twist Magic, who won the Grade One John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April, as well as Poquelin, who fished sixth behind Katchit in the Grade One Triumph Hurdle at The Festival last season.
Mountain was pulled up in that race, and the classy flat performer could represent local trainer Jonjo O’Neill, while the progressive Kanad could aim for a fourth consecutive victory for trainer Charlie Mann.
Dempsey finished second in the Grade One Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase in March, and the nine-year-old could line up for trainer Carl Llewellyn.
A strong Irish challenge is headed by the Noel Meade-trained Orbit O’Gold, who finished mid-division in the Grade One Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival in March. Mill House Girl could return for trainer Shane Donohoe following success in the Cheltenham Business Club Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at The Showcase on October 20.
Voy Por Ustedes, winner of the Grade One Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase last season, heads the weights for the £50,000 paddypower.com Handicap Chase (2.20pm).
Alan King’s exceptional six-year-old has a 100% record at Cheltenham, having won the Grade One Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at The Festival the previous year.
River City finished third behind Voy Por Ustedes in March, and the Noel Chance trained 10-year-old could reoppose his conqueror in handicap company following a couple of recent efforts on the Flat.
Paul Nicholls could be represented by Granit Jack, who finished second to Ebaziyan in the Grade One Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival in March.
Hasty Prince was also a runner-up at The Festival last season, chasing home Andreas in the Grade Three Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup, Jonjo O’Neill’s nine-year-old could reoppose the Ian Williams-trained Bambi de l’Orme, and David Pipe’s Figaro du Rocher.
The Irish challenge is headed by the Paul Nolan-trained French Accordion, who was impressive when winning the Grade Two Fortria Chase at Navan on November 11. Tiger Cry, second in the Grade Three Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup in 2006, could represent Arthur Moore.
Several unbeaten records could go on the line in the £15,000 Open Bumper (4.00pm,) the concluding contest at Cheltenham on Sunday.
Oberon Moon, winner of the Cheltenham Racing Ltd Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race at The Showcase on October 20, could return for champion trainer Paul Nicholls, who also has Woolcombe Folly entered.
Keith Goldsworthy could be represented by Hold Em, who has been victorious three times already this season, while the Carl Llewellyn-trained Kid Charlemagne has also been impressive on his two racecourse appearances.
Among the nine Irish entries, Noel Meade could run the unexposed Chateau d’Eau, or Cottage Oak, a seven-length winner on his only start.
GROUND
The ground today at Cheltenham is GOOD on the chase and hurdle courses, and GOOD TO FIRM on the cross country course.
Cheltenham is currently watering to maintain the current conditions and Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing, Simon Claisse, hopes that the ground will be similar to that raced on at last month's Showcase meeting.
Claisse revealed today: "We are going to put on three-quarters of an inch of water. We are forecast a couple of millimetres of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday but, if it didn't materialise, the ground would ride too quick on the weekend which is why we are watering.
"I'm delighted with the state of the ground, and we're hoping to achieve similar conditions to the beautiful surface we had at our last meeting."
THE PADDY POWER GOLD CUP FIVE DAYS & BETTING
Class 1, Grade 3, £120,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.40pm, Cheltenham, Saturday, November 17, 2007. For 4yo+, two miles, four and a half furlongs. Penalties, after November 3, a winner of a Class 3 chase 3lb; of a Class 1 or 2 chase 6lb; no penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed October 31; entries released November 1 (62 entries), weights revealed November 7. Five-day confirmation stage November 12 (38 remain), final declaration stage 10.00am, November 15. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including Sunday, November 11, 2007. May not include some overseas form.
Form Horse Paddy Power Odds Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
0U/513P- BILLYVODDAN (IRE) 33-1 8-11-12 Trevor Hemmings Henry Daly
34200-6 L'AMI (FR) 33-1 8-11-11 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR
114030-1 FORGET THE PAST 33-1 9-11-11 (3lb ex) Sean Mulryan Michael O'Brien IRE
2/10102- TOO FORWARD (IRE) 33-1 11-11-06 T L Gibson & D Mathias Carl Llewellyn
2300U-1 KNOWHERE (IRE) 12-1 9-11-04 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
PP/2PF4- CROZAN (FR) 12-1 7-11-03 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Henderson
211F5-1 DON'T PUSH IT (IRE) 4-1 7-11-02 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
2-1021B KNIGHT LEGEND (IRE) 33-1 8-11-00 Lynn Wilson Jessica Harrington IRE
3646-U5 LE VOLFONI (FR) 33-1 6-11-00 A F Banks Paul Nicholls
06/1341- IDOLE FIRST (IRE) 16-1 8-10-12 D and J Racing Ltd Venetia Williams
1/13110- NEW LITTLE BRIC (FR) 16-1 6-10-11 Kathy Stuart Paul Nicholls
1F21U-1 L'ANTARTIQUE (FR) 7-1 7-10-10 Mrs A N Durkan Ferdy Murphy
1PF23-1 IL DUCE (IRE) 33-1 7-10-10 Mrs Peter Prowting Alan King
31522-3 BOB HALL (IRE) 14-1 6-10-10 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
06-P101 KINGS BROOK 25-1 7-10-09 Tony Gale Nick Williams
450-614 PONMEOATH (IRE) 25-1 7-10-08 Jolly Up Syndicate Eric McNamara IRE
41206/3- ARTEEA (IRE) 66-1 8-10-08 M O'Flaherty Michael Hourigan IRE
30511-4 BAMBI DE L'ORME (FR) 33-1 8-10-07 Mr & Mrs John Poynton Ian Williams
3/PP105- COPSALE LAD 10-1 10-10-06 Swallow Partnership Nicky Henderson
20131-B PRIVATE BE 14-1 8-10-06 David and Daphne Walsh Philip Hobbs
5036P//2- PALARSHAN (FR) 25-1 9-10-05 Sumner Wellesley Henry Daly
311400- ROMAN ARK 50-1 9-10-05 Richard Collins Malcolm Jefferson
12221-0 BLACK HILLS 50-1 8-10-04 The Kingfisher Partnership Jonathan Geake
114-230 BALLYAGRAN (IRE) 50-1 7-10-03 Kevin C O'Sullivan Noel Meade IRE
1PP-113 PATMAN DU CHARMIL (FR) 50-1 5-10-02 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
21131-4 THREE MIRRORS 25-1 7-10-02 Sean Murphy Ferdy Murphy
2P0400- VODKA BLEU (FR) 12-1 8-10-02 David Johnson David Pipe
11/3212- GRANIT JACK (FR) 5-1 5-10-00 John Hales Paul Nicholls
11122-51 BISHOP'S BRIDGE (IRE) 33-1 9-9-13 (3lb ex) S Kimber Emma Lavelle
12341-11 ABRAGANTE (IRE) 5-1 6-9-12 (6lb ex) David Johnson David Pipe
20P22-1 MR BOO (IRE) 50-1 8-9-13 The Hon Mrs C Cameron Gary Moore
16/1-3F2 FIER NORMAND (FR) 33-1 8-9-13 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
P4-1114 LORD RYEFORD (IRE) 50-1 7-9-10 Five Valleys Racing Partnership Tom George
00211-U ROYAL COUNTY STAR (IRE) 25-1 8-9-09 Dunsany Racing Syndicate Tony Martin IRE
213240- THE REVEREND (IRE) 100-1 7-9-04 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
00164- THE RONEY MAN 66-1 7-9-02 Mrs M Ross Tony Martin IRE
4-P60321 BIG ROB (IRE) 66-1 8-8-13 (3lb ex) Pat Betts Brendan Powell
6111122 DONOVAN (NZ) 66-1 8-8-12 George Hibbert & Jayne Greenwood Richard Guest
Paddy Power bet on the Paddy Power Gold Cup: 4-1 Don’’t Push It, 5-1 Abragante, Granit Jack, 7-1 L’Antartique, 10-1 Copsale Lad, 12-1 Crozan, Knowhere, Vodka Bleu, 14-1 Bob Hall, Private Be, 16-1 Idole First, New Little Bric, 25-1 Kings Brook, Ponmeoath, Palarshan, Three Mirrors, Royal County Star, 33-1 Billyvoddan, L’’Ami, Forget The Past, Too Forward, Knight Legend, Le Volfoni, Il Duce, Bambi de L’Orme, Bishops Bridge, Fier Normand, 50-1 Roman Ark, Black Hills, Ballyagran, Patman du Charmil, Mr. Boo, Lord Ryeford, 66-1 Arteea, The Roney Man, Big Rob, Donovan, 100-1 The Reverend
38 entries remain at five-day confirmation stage, 7 Irish-trained, 1 French-trained MAXIMUM FIELD SIZE IS 20
THE GREATWOOD HURDLE SIX DAYS
Class 1, Grade 3, £100,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.55pm, Cheltenham, Sunday, November 18, 2007. For 4yo+, two miles and half a furlong. Penalties, after November 3, a winner of a Class 1 to 3 hurdle race 6lb; no penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed October 31; entries released November 1 (58 entries), weights revealed November 7. Five-day confirmation stage November 12 (30 remain), final declaration stage 10.00am, November 16. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including Sunday, November 11, 2007. May not include some overseas form.
Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
124102- OSANA (FR) 5-11-12 Thomas Barr David Pipe
30261-11 KINGS QUAY 5-11-08 (6lb ex) Marie Taylor John Quinn
31131//0- MEPHISTO (IRE) 8-11-08 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
61214-3 ALTILHAR (USA) 4-11-06 H R Hunt Gary Moore
11351-F SIZING EUROPE (IRE) 5-11-06 Alan Potts Henry de Bromhead IRE
311010- ORBIT O'GOLD (USA) 5-11-06 Mighty Macs Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
163151/- CHIARO (FR) 5-11-04 Andrew Cohen Philip Hobbs
2021-20 FRENCH SAULAIE (FR) 6-11-04 Carol Skan Philip Hobbs
142131- LAUSTRA BAD (FR) 4-11-04 Sarah Ling David Pipe
0465-00 CARACCIOLA (GER) 10-11-04 Piers Pottinger Nicky Henderson
F121-2 LEAD ON (IRE) 6-11-04 B K Peppiatt Philip Hobbs
31361-3 POQUELIN (FR) 4-11-03 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
12430- TROUBLE AT BAY (IRE) 7-11-03 Nigel Bunter Alan King
00201-0 HEATHCOTE 5-11-02 B Siddle & B D Haynes Gary Moore
U4U121- DEMPSEY (IRE) 9-11-01 Tracy Brown Carl Llewellyn
10/1306- VICTRAM (IRE) 7-11-01 Pinheads Pizza Syndicate Adrian McGuinness IRE
1P- MOUNTAIN (IRE) 4-11-01 Gay Smith Jonjo O'Neill
4030//0-02 CHIVALRY 8-11-01 Paul Beck Venetia Williams
5-22021 MILL HOUSE GIRL (IRE) 6-11-00 Charles Harte Shane Donohoe IRE
211F- PEVENSEY (IRE) 5-11-00 Dum Spiro Spero John Quinn
12P1-11 KANAD 5-10-13 P M Warren Charlie Mann
221113 PIGEON ISLAND 4-10-13 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
B-320405 ORPEN WIDE (IRE) 5-10-11 Andy & Bev Wright Michael Chapman
352-112 PLATIN GROUNDS (GER) 5-10-10 D J & S A Goodman Nigel Twiston-Davies
3P/12F1- TWIST MAGIC (FR) 5-10-10 Barry Fulton, Tony Hayward, Michael Lynch Paul Nicholls
4512-12 INGRATITUDE (IRE) 4-10-08 Club ISM & JSC Sport Nicky Henderson
-110 MANHATTAN BOY (GER) 5-10-08 Big Apples Philip Hobbs
45131-0 WIZARD OF US 7-10-07 P Currey Mick Mullineaux
13003-02 LOUP DU SAUBOUAS (FR) 4-10-06 C Kearney Noel Meade IRE
44F111-F NIKE WALKER (FR) 4-9-10 Pipe Monkees David Pipe
30 entries remain at five-day confirmation stage
5 Irish-trained
MAXIMUM FIELD SIZE IS 24
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