Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham: the runners and riders

Ginny's Destiny will take on 14 rivals as he bids to provide Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden with back-to-back wins in Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.20) at Cheltenham.

Stage Star made a successful reappearance in the race last year, having won the previous season's Turners Novices' Chase, and Ginny's Destiny, who was second to Grey Dawning in that Cheltenham Festival Grade 1, will attempt to emulate his stablemate on Saturday.

The eight-year-old won at this meeting last year before following up on the New course on his next two starts, and the long-term ante-post favourite is the 5-2 market leader with the race sponsors. Kotmask and Gemirande were the only two not declared on Thursday morning for the 2m4f highlight of Cheltenham's three-day November meeting.

Il Ridoto could provide Nicholls, who won this with Al Ferof in 2012 and Caid Du Berlais a decade ago, with his fourth success in the £150,000 handicap.

The seven-year-old is back down to the same mark of 138 as when he recorded his sole Cheltenham success and Freddie Gingell's claim means he is actually on 3lb better terms than that Cobden-ridden victory on 2023 Trials day.

Before finishing third in the race last year, Il Ridoto was fourth behind Ga Law in 2022 and that winner is back for more, although the Jamie Snowden-trained eight-year-old is rated 13lb higher and will be ridden by Gavin Sheehan rather than Jonathan Burke.

Sheehan rode Fugitif to his last victory, which came on the New course in last season's December Gold Cup, but Sean Bowen is reunited with Richard Hobson's stable star, who he has partnered on three occasions including when the nine-year-old chased home Seddon at last year's Cheltenham Festival.

Protektorat was a staying-on runner-up to Midnight Shadow off a mark of 154 in this race in 2021 and the Ryanair Chase winner will have to concede upwards of 12lb as he attempts to go one better for Dan Skelton.

Madara, a winner of a 2m½f handicap chase for Sophie Leech on the New course last December, is upped in trip on his stable debut for Skelton, having finished eighth at Ascot on his sole start for Keiran Burke a fortnight ago.

Editeur Du Gite is another going up in distance to two and a half miles but Gary and Josh Moore's veteran is proven at Cheltenham, having won back-to-back handicaps in 2021 before landing the rearranged Grade 1 Clarence House Chase here in January last year.

Three weeks on from Givemefive providing Harry Derham with his first Cheltenham winner, Imagine could supply the trainer with the biggest success of his fledgling career should the €320,000 purchase from Andrew and Gemma Brown's Caldwell Construction dispersal sale strike on his first handicap start over fences.

Janidil is a rare runner in the race for Willie Mullins, who had Authorized Art pulled up in this 12 months ago. The 2022 Ryanair Chase runner-up's owner JP McManus is also represented by In Excelsis Deo, whose trainer Harry Fry has rewarded Bryan Carver with a big-race ride after the jockey got the yard's frustrating Might I's head in front at Bangor on Wednesday.

The Gavin Cromwell-trained Hartur D'Arc or Henry de Bromhead's Lets Go Champ could also become Ireland's first winner of the Paddy Power since Tranquil Sea struck for Edward O'Grady in 2009.

Jetoile was fourth behind Lets Go Champ in a Grade 3 handicap at the Punchestown festival and Dylan Johnston replaces the injured Daryl Jacob, who rode the Ryan Potter-trained nine-year-old when he failed to beat a rival at Chepstow, on last year's Old Roan winner.

Straw Fan Jack was third in the Plate at the festival on his last visit to Cheltenham and bids for his first win since beating subsequent Galway Plate hero Ash Tree Meadow in a novice chase here in October 2022.

Only Weveallbeencaught, who was beaten half a length over course and distance on just his second start for Christian Williams last time, has a lighter weight than Straw Fan Jack.

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2024 Paddy Power Gold Cup betting odds

Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2.20 Cheltenham, Saturday)

Paddy Power: 5-2 Ginny's Destiny, 5 Ga Law, Imagine, 10 Il Ridoto, 12 In Excelsis Deo, Lets Go Champ, 16 Protektorat, Weveallbeencaught, 20 Fugitif, Hartur D'Arc, Straw Fan Jack, 25 Janidil, Jetoile, Madara, 40 Editeur Du Gite

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Paddy Power Gold Cup runners and riders

Protektorat Harry Skelton
Ga Law Gavin Sheehan
Ginny's Destiny Harry Cobden
Editeur Du Gite Niall Houlihan
Janidil Brian Hayes
Fugitif Sean Bowen
Imagine Paul O'Brien
Jetoile Dylan Johnston
In Excelsis Deo Bryan Carver
Lets Go Champ Mike O'Connor
Hartur D'Arc Jonathan Burke
Madara Tristan Durrell
Il Ridoto Freddie Gingell
Straw Fan Jack Sean Houlihan
Weveallbeencaught Jack Tudor

Paddy Power Gold Cup tip and 1-2-3 prediction

Weekender tipster Sam Hardy shares his big-race advice for Cheltenham

1 GA LAW
2 Ginny's Destiny
3 Protektorat

Ga Law is a two-time winner from four starts at Cheltenham, with his only defeat coming in Grade 1 company. He won this race in 2022 and has every chance of a repeat success on the back of a pleasing comeback run at Chepstow, where he attempted to concede more than a stone to the winner.

Protektorat is the class horse in the race but the ground may have gone against him here, although he's one of the strongest finishers and could stay on for a place.

Ga Law14:20 Cheltenham

View Racecard

Jky: Gavin Sheehan Tnr: Jamie Snowden

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Published on 14 November 2024inBritain