Paddy Power Gold Cup Runners - Top Field Set For Cheltenham November Feature

Paddy Power Gold Cup Key Contenders

Meetmebythesea (Ben Pauling)

The JP McManus-owned six-year-old is a worthy favourite after a very good novice season. He won at Wetherby and Ayr. He was then well beaten in the Game Spirit on heavy ground at Newbury, which can be put down to the conditions. At the Festival he won the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at 9/1, leading for much of the race and pulling clear on the run-in under Ben Jones. That race is run over a very similar trip on the New Course, so he has shown he handles Cheltenham. Trainer Ben Pauling is based nearby and is looking for a first Paddy Power Gold Cup.

The trends are against him, though. Only one of the last ten winners was a six-year-old. None of the last ten had won on their previous start. He also hasn't run yet this season.

Blueking d'Oroux (Dan Skelton)

One of several Johnny de la Hey horses that moved from Paul Nicholls to Dan Skelton in the summer. He was busy as a novice last season. He won the Grade 2 Rising Stars at Wincanton and was beaten only a neck in a Kempton handicap chase in March. He finished his season by running well at 22/1 to be second in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree. He may run at Carlisle this weekend before Cheltenham. If he does, he matches the race's main trends. As the champion trainer's leading fancy, he should be popular in the betting.

Madara (Dan Skelton)

Madara has already won over this course and distance. He won the Plate at last season's Festival over the same 2m4f44y, moving up smoothly from midfield and going clear from the last. He followed that by leading at the last in the Topham at Aintree before finishing a close third. At seven he is the right age, and Skelton won this race last year with Panic Attack. He is one of the strongest trends fits near the top of the betting.

Regent's Stroll (Paul Nicholls)

Paul Nicholls has won two of the last three runnings, with Stage Star and Il Ridoto. Regent's Stroll is his shortest-priced runner. He was third behind Meetmebythesea in the Jack Richards. He then ran well to be second in the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree over more than three miles. He tends to race prominently, and that helped Stage Star (2023) and Il Ridoto (2024) win here. He is now a seven-year-old and should improve again.

Vincenzo (Sam Thomas)

Vincenzo went off the 100/30 favourite for this race 12 months ago and finished second to Panic Attack on soft-to-heavy ground. He was second again in the December Gold Cup on his next run, won a valuable handicap at Ascot in January and was then a disappointing fifth in the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury. He clearly likes this course and the trip. He is a solid each-way option.

Quebecois (Paul Nicholls)

Quebecois has strong form for this race. He was beaten only a head into third in the Ultima at the Festival, leading for a long way. He has already run this season, finishing a respectable second at Newton Abbot on 17 October. As a seven-year-old with a run this season who didn't win last time out, he fits every trend below. He also comes from the trainer with the best recent record in the race.

Jagwar (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero)

Jagwar was ante-post favourite for this race last year but was taken out because of the ground. He then ran a string of good races in defeat. He was third in the December Gold Cup and beaten a head in a Cheltenham handicap in January. He was second in the Ultima at the Festival, half a length behind stablemate Johnnywho. All his best recent form has come at Cheltenham. The question is how much weight he will carry after those runs. Cut in the ground is also likely to keep him out again.

Others to note

Johnnywho won the Ultima and was fourth in the Grand National. He will need a strong pace at this shorter trip. Of the Irish entries, Henry de Bromhead's Zurich is the shortest-priced. However, the stats below show no Irish-trained winner in the last ten years.