6th
November 2013 - Finian's Rainbow (11st 12lb - 14/1 with Paddy Power)
heads the weights for the £160,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup, the highlight of The
Open at Cheltenham on Saturday, November 16.
The
10-year-old won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at The Festival in 2012 and is
one of seven entries for champion trainer Nicky Henderson. Among the septet is
Grade One-winning novice Captain Conan (11st 8lb - 10/1), Rajdhani
Express (11st 4lb - 10/1), winner of the Rewards4Racing
Novices' Handicap Chase at The Festival in March, and last year's third Nadiya
De La Vega (10st 3lb - 16/1).
Dynaste
enjoyed a fantastic first season over fences, the highlight being an impressive
nine-length success in the Grade One Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton Park on
Boxing Day, and has been allotted 11st 8lb. David Pipe's grey is the 5/1
favourite with Paddy Power, but missed his intended reappearance at Wetherby on
Saturday, November 2.
Pipe
could also be represented by the Allan Stennett-owned pair of Ballynagour
(10st 6lb -8/1), a well-beaten eighth when favourite for the Byrne Group Plate
at The Festival, and Salut Flo (10st 7lb - 12/1), who has not been seen
since landing the corresponding race in 2012.
Trainer
Steve Gollings is considering running Conquisto (11st 3lb, 14/1) in the
prestigious contest following a gallant length and a quarter victory over Astracad
(10st 5lb - 20/1) in the Grade Two Betfred Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase at
Aintree on October 26.
The
eight-year-old took well to chasing last season and has made the frame in all
eight of his starts over fences. He was in fine form during the spring,
annexing a two-mile Listed Handicap Chase at Ayr on April 20, and placing in
valuable handicap chases either side of that at Ascot and Haydock Park.
Gollings
revealed: "Conquisto has come out of the Old Roan 100 per cent and I
could not be happier with him.
"He
is in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but nothing is certain yet. We will assess the
race at the next stage and take it from there, but other possibilities include
the Amlin Chase at Ascot and the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon. It's
exciting stuff.
"He
went up four pounds for winning at Aintree and I don't know if it is a guilt
thing with the handicapper, but he has been badly treated in the past and maybe
it is evening itself out now.
"Conquisto
still seems to be improving and I have said many times before that he lacks a
bit of size, but he doesn't think he is small and is a tremendous horse to
train. For his diminutive size, he has so much scope but, for any horse of that
stature, it is that much more difficult.
"He
is a real tough, genuine horse and I don't think we would be able to replace
him. I think if he was a hand bigger, he would be a world beater."
Other
notable contenders include the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Johns Spirit (10st
2lb - 7/1), who scored impressively at The Showcase, recent Down Royal Grade
Two victor Rolling Aces (11st 5lb - 12/1) from the stable of last year's
winning trainer Paul Nicholls and Martin Keighley's course winner Champion
Court (11st 6lb - 12/1).
The
Irish challenge is led by Benefficient (11st 6lb - 12/1), who landed the
Grade Two Jewson Novices' Chase at The Festival in March and reappeared this season
when fourth in the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday,
November 2 and the Shark Hanlon-trained Hidden Cyclone (11st 1lb -
12/1). Ireland's champion Jump trainer Willie Mullins has four entries - Marito
(10st 10lb - 14/1), Terminal (10st7lb - 20/1), Rupert Lamb
(10st 2lb - 16/1) and Sweet My Lord (9st 8lb - 25/1).
The
five-day confirmation stage for the Paddy Power Gold Cup is on Monday, November
11. The maximum field size is 20, with 49 entries going forward at the moment.
The
latest betting with the sponsor:- 5/1 Dynaste; 7/1
Johns Spirit; 8/1 Ballynagour; 10/1 Rajdhani Express, Captain
Conan; 12/1 Benefficient, Champion Court, Hidden Cyclone, Salut Flo,
Rolling Aces; 14/1 Unioniste, Katenko, Colour Squadron, Marito, Finians
Rainbow, Realt Dubh, Conquisto, Triolo D'Alene, Battle Group; 16/1 Third
Intention, Walkon, Fago, Kid Cassidy, Ulck Du Lin, Nadiya de La Vega, Ma
Filleule, Rupert Lamb, Bury Parade; 20/1 Tap Night, Gift Of Dgab, Vino
Griego, Wishfull Thinking, Terminal, Texas Jack, Astracad, Easter Meteor,
Double Ross; 25/1 Carrickboy, Woolcombe Folly, Colbert Station, Bless
The Wings, Sweet My Lord; 33/1 Attaglance, Kumbeshwar, Hectors Choice,
Duke of Lucca; 40/1 Tatenen; 50/1 Sean Airgead
EW: 1/4
1,2,3,4
About
The Open
The
Open is a prestigious and historic three-day meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse,
which signals that the new Jump season is in full swing. There is record prize
money of £743,000 in 2013, with the feature Paddy Power Gold Cup worth
£160,000.
Staged
on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 15, 16 & 17. The Open is the
second highest-profile meeting at the home of Jump racing, following The
Festival in March and a huge event in its own right.
The
Open provides thrilling competition between many of the best Jump horses in
Europe, with crowds of around 70,000 over the three days.
It is
regarded by many as the biggest and most important meeting of the first half of
the Jump season - a weekend of entertainment, sport and fun not to be missed,
including many trade stands in The Open shopping village.
Please
find more details at www.cheltenham.co.uk and through Twitter
(@CheltenhamRaces) and Facebook www.facebook.com/thehomeofjumpracing
About
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham
Racecourse is situated in Prestbury on the outskirts of the historic spa town
of Cheltenham. The Home of Jump Racing, Cheltenham Racecourse is the venue for
the world's pre-eminent Jump Racing meeting, The Festival, which takes place in
March every year. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswolds,
Cheltenham Racecourse is a stunning natural amphitheatre and offers the
highest-quality action throughout the Jump season.
Cheltenham
Racecourse is part of The Jockey Club, which has been at the heart of British
racing for more than 260 years. Today the largest commercial group in the
sport, The Jockey Club runs the largest racecourse group in the UK by turnover
(2012: £142.1m), courses (15) including those at Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom
Downs and Newmarket, attendances (2012: 1.8m), total prize money (2012:
£35.3m), contribution to prize money (2012: £16.5m) and quality racing (Group
and Graded races); more than 3,000 acres of world-class training grounds in
Newmarket and Lambourn; The National Stud breeding enterprise and education
provider; and the charity for racing's people in need, Racing Welfare. Governed
by Royal Charter, every penny The Jockey Club makes it puts back into British
racing. More information is available at www.thejockeyclub.co.uk
The
Paddy Power Gold Cup
Class 1,
Grade 3, £160,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.30pm, Cheltenham, Saturday,
November 16, 2013. For 4yo+, two miles about four and a half furlongs. Entries
closed, October 29, entries revealed October 30 (49 entries), weights revealed
November 6. Penalties: after November 3, a winner of a chase 5lb (no penalty to
increase a horse's weight above 11st 12lb). Five-day confirmation stage
November 11, final 48-hour declaration stage 10.00am, November 14. Form figures
supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of
Monday, November 4.
Form
Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer
11/4642-
FINIAN'S RAINBOW (IRE) 10-11-12 Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson
0/11121-
DYNASTE (FR) 7-11-08 John White David Pipe
2/11151-
CAPTAIN CONAN (FR) 6-11-08 Triermore Stud Nicky Henderson
14133-6
WISHFULL THINKING 10-11-07 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
12411P-4
BENEFFICIENT (IRE) 7-11-06 A Shiels/Niall Reilly Tony Martin IRE
2/24251-
CHAMPION COURT (IRE) 8-11-06 Mark Boothright Martin Keighley
4/F0211-
KATENKO (FR) 7-11-06 A Brooks Venetia Williams
0/43112-1
ROLLING ACES (IRE) 7-11-05 Paul Barber, Ian Fogg & David Martin Paul
Nicholls
14/P3P0-
GRANDS CRUS (FR) 8-11-04 Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds III David
Pipe
2F1011-
RAJDHANI EXPRESS 6-11-04 Robert Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson
2131-21
CONQUISTO 8-11-03 P J Martin Steve Gollings
2/04422-
REALT DUBH (IRE) 9-11-03 Des Sharkey Noel Meade IRE
521F25-
FAGO (FR) 5-11-01 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls
106F-21
HIDDEN CYCLONE (IRE) 8-11-01 Mrs A F Mee & David Mee John Hanlon IRE
113114-3
UNIONISTE (FR) 5-11-01 John Hales Paul Nicholls
133120-3
TEXAS JACK (IRE) 7-11-00 Robert Watson Noel Meade IRE
33262-1
THIRD INTENTION (IRE) 6-11-00 Robert and Sarah Tizzard Colin Tizzard
21125-U
VINO GRIEGO (FR) 8-11-00 C E Stedman Gary Moore
22P52-U
WALKON (FR) 8-11-00 McNeill Family Alan King
05/4520-
KID CASSIDY (IRE) 7-10-13 J P McManus Nicky Henderson
F0311-1
BATTLE GROUP 8-10-13 Jolly Boys Outing Johnny Farrelly
3-22236
WOOLCOMBE FOLLY (IRE) 10-10-13 The Hon Mrs Townshend Paul Nicholls
141522-2
TAP NIGHT (USA) 6-10-13 J P McManus Lucinda Russell
1225F-0
KUMBESHWAR 6-10-11 McNeill Family & Nigel Bunter Alan King
2P301-13
TRIOLO D'ALENE (FR) 6-10-10 Mr & Mrs Sandy Orr Nicky Henderson
5211U-0
COLBERT STATION (IRE) 9-10-10 J P McManus Ted Walsh IRE
2/113F2-
MARITO (GER) 7-10-10 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
0/5110P-6
BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) 8-10-09 Lesley Field Alan King
3/311PU-0
ULCK DU LIN (FR) 5-10-07 Mrs Johnny de la Hey Paul Nicholls
115U-0P
TERMINAL (FR) 6-10-07 Favourites Racing Willie Mullins IRE
0112//01/-
SALUT FLO (FR) 8-10-07 Allan Stennett David Pipe
61P16-0
CARRICKBOY (IRE) 9-10-07 Trevor Hemmings Venetia Williams
61/0P10-
BALLYNAGOUR (IRE) 7-10-06 Allan Stennett David Pipe
40F-452
ASTRACAD (FR) 7-10-05 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
122102-
MA FILLEULE (FR) 5-10-05 Simon Munir Nicky Henderson
31/214-P0
EASTER METEOR 7-10-03 Mr & Mrs S C Willes Emma Lavelle
3U3P15-
NADIYA DE LA VEGA (FR) 7-10-03 J P McManus Nicky Henderson
2//421F1-
RUPERT LAMB 7-10-02 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE
26033-1
JOHNS SPIRIT (IRE) 6-10-02 Christopher W T Johnston Jonjo O'Neill
F2/2425-
COLOUR SQUADRON (IRE) 7-10-02 J P McManus Philip Hobbs
3/41523-1
BURY PARADE (IRE) 7-10-02 Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Bury Parade
Paul Nicholls
2U2F/-60
GIFT OF DGAB (IRE) 9-10-01 Gigginstown House Stud Tony Martin IRE
P40060-
HECTOR'S CHOICE (FR) 9-10-00 James and Jean Potter Richard Lee
20360-60
DUKE OF LUCCA (IRE) 8-9-12 Lesley Field Philip Hobbs
53P-613
DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) 7-9-10 Options O Syndicate Nigel Twiston-Davies
B0S303 SWEET
MY LORD (FR) 7-9-08 Aiden Devaney Willie Mullins IRE
3330-P2
ATTAGLANCE 7-9-08 H Young, G Eifert, R Snyder Malcolm
Jefferson
4-P3120
SEAN AIRGEAD (IRE) 8-9-07 Brendan Flynn Mark McNiff IRE
U/606F0-
TATENEN (FR) 9-9-05 The Stewart Family Richard Rowe
49
entries
11
Irish-trained
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