Day two of Cheltenham’s November meeting features the Paddy Power Gold Cup among its strong seven-race card. GG tipster Joe Napier picks out his four best bets, including one in the big race.
1.10 Cheltenham – Steel Plate & Sections Ltd Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase
Tony Martin is back in control at his yard for the jumps, and READ TO RETURN should have a great chance here.
He was a massive eyecatcher when his jockey last year gave him a truly amateurish ride, as he stormed home for fifth when given miles too much to do. He was subsequently placed twice over hurdles over distances too short for him too, but having lost his way towards the end of the campaign, he returned in better shape at Punchestown recently when fourth carrying 12st 4lb.
He is just 1lb higher in the handicap than 12 months ago, but may have had much more in hand if a more experienced amateur were aboard. Finian Maguire has a lot more of that as the man charged with the mount this season, and he should go close.
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1.45 Cheltenham – Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
While there is a pleasingly deep field on offer in the Grade 2 Arkle Trial on Saturday, the race looks to lack a fair bit of depth, so siding with the favourite L’EAU DU SUD looks very worthwhile. There are a few second season novices with much more experience, but Dan Skelton’s charge may be the only one with the ability to hold his own at this grade later in the season.
He was desperately unlucky not to land a big handicap hurdle last term, finishing second in the Betfair and County Hurdles, and a close fifth in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, beaten only a length-and-a-half. He put that right on his chase debut though, coasting home by ten lengths off his mark off 138.
This might not even be that much tougher a contest, with nearest market rival Lookaway having much more to prove after only winning a match on his chase bow. The selection looks as open to improvement anyway and he rates a confident bet with a clear round.
2.20 Cheltenham – Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase
Ginny’s Destiny boasts an obvious chance given his second in last season’s Turners Novices’ Chase, as well as plenty of other good course form from his novice campaign. However, he would have to be close to Grade 1 standard to win this off a mark of 155, and his two seasonal reappearances have been well below his best form. On RPRs, he has improved from the first to second runs of each season by 24lb and 34lb respectively.
That makes him very vulnerable at cramped odds with this being very competitive otherwise. Protektorat may make a bold bid off top-weight, but the suspicion is there could be more to come from IN EXCELSIS DEO, a winner on the New Course here in April after running a remarkable race when fifth in Festival Plate.
He has a tendency to get behind and make jumping errors, which always ensure he is a risky betting proposition. Nevertheless, he always finishes strongly, and is still only a six-year-old so may well have more in his locker. Cheekpieces did not work when sent over for the Galway Plate in July, but his previous consistency at Cheltenham, coupled with a realistic hope of him settling and jumping better, means a mark of 143 can be defied with just 10st 4lb on his back.
Paddy Power Gold Cup Tips 2024: Grade 1 Star To Romp To Cheltenham Glory
An exhilarating renewal of the Paddy Power Gold Cup is set to light up Cheltenham on Saturday afternoon, as a field full of intrigue heads to the 2m 4f 44y start. Ginny’s Destiny is a hot favourite for the race, but our in-house tipster Steve Chambers is taking on the Paul Nicholls-trained raider and expects…
Thu 14 Nov 20242.55 Cheltenham – From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle
There is enough for plenty in the field here to prove, including favourite Doyen quest over this trip. The form that stands out is the Pertemps qualifier from last month in which Gowel Road was second and HARDY BOY was fourth, the latter from 6lb out of the weights.
That ensures that Ben Pauling’s charge is now 4lb better off with the weights with a four-length margin to make up, and therefore makes more appeal than Gowel Road at almost three times the price. Hardy Boy has been busy since May, but form of 221424 over hurdles since July has shown admirable consistency and shown him improve 15lb in the weights.
He also travelled notably well in the qualifier a few weeks ago and may not be running too much more with winter ground in the offing soon enough. This might therefore be a significant target, especially as he is now qualified for the Pertemps Final but may need to rise a little further in the handicap to make the line-up.
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