Saturday updates: In Excelsis Deo backed for Paddy Power Gold Cup success for JP McManus

In Excelsis Deo has been backed on Saturday morning to provide Harry Fry with a first success in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. 

The JP McManus-owned six-year-old has shortened into 8-1 (from 12) to score under Bryan Carver when he takes on 14 rivals in the day two highlight (2.20) of the November meeting. 

The winner of two of his ten starts over fences, In Excelsis Deo has placed in three of his four appearances at Cheltenham, most recently when winning a Grade 2 contest by four lengths on good ground in April.  

His latest start in the Galway Plate ended in disappointment when he was pulled up after several jumping errors, but he has been well supported to bounce back on his return from a 109-day break. 

In Excelsis Deo is one of several runners backed to deny market leader Ginny's Destiny, with Ga Law at 9-2 (from 5) and Harry Derham's stable debutant Imagine at 13-2 (from 15-2) also fancied to deny the 3-1 favourite in the feature chase. 

Market movers

Cheltenham 

12.35 East India Dock 6-5 (from 2)
1.30 Captain Speaking 20-1 (from 28) 
1.45 Breizh River 14-1 (from 18)
2.20 Ga Law 9-2 (from 7), Imagine 13-2 (from 15-2), In Excelsis Deo 8-1 (from 12) 
3.30 Long Draw 7-1 (from 9)

Newcastle

3.15 Dubai Honour 13-8 (from 2) 
3.48 Night Raider 9-4 (from 3), Wiltshire 5-1 (from 11-2) 

Good, good to soft ground maintained at Cheltenham

The Paddy Power Gold Cup will be staged on good ground after conditions at Cheltenham remained unchanged for day two of the November meeting. 

A dry night on Friday ensured good, good to soft going was maintained in advance of the seven-race card, which is headlined by the £150,000 premier handicap chase (2.20).

Clerk of the course Jon Pullin chose not to water at Prestbury Park after the conclusion of day one of the meeting, which saw Jonbon and Potters Charm land Grade 2 contests, after receiving positive updates from jockeys throughout the day.  

"We had a dry night," Pullin said at 8am. "The jockeys reported the ground was riding on the easy side of good, so we chose to leave it and not do any watering yesterday. 

"The forecast is to remain dry during racing today and we'll maintain the going. There's a risk of showers later, probably after racing, but it's one or two very light showers, so nothing significant at all."

Cheltenham: good, good to soft ground maintained for Saturday's fixtureCredit: John Grossick

Saturday's card is headlined by the Paddy Power Gold Cup, in which Ginny's Destiny heads the market in a bid to provide Paul Nicholls with back-to-back wins. 

ITV will broadcast four races from the fixture, including the Grade 2 Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices' Chase (1.45), alongside two Listed races at Newcastle. 

Triple Group 1 winner Dubai Honour is the name of note in the opening BetUK Churchill Stakes (3.15), where conditions are dry but windy for the all-weather fixture. 

Updated at 9.45am

Read Saturday's previews:

1.25 Navan: Can anyone stop Bleu De Vassy in Grade 3 For Auction after Fairyhouse demolition job? 

1.45 Cheltenham: 'This was always the target' - L'Eau Du Sud looks to back up emphatic chasing debut success in Arkle Trial 

1.58 Navan: 'He's in great order' - Bob Olinger back to try to repeat his victory of last year under new rider Darragh O'Keeffe 

2.20 Cheltenham: 'The plan has always been to target this race' - top trainers have their say on a riveting Paddy Power Gold Cup 

2.33 Navan: Can Champion Chase hero Captain Guinness make another winning return in the Fortria? 

2.55 Cheltenham: Can Doyen Quest reach even greater heights over a new trip? 

3.30 Cheltenham: Is Hamsiyann a handicap blot or will he be blown away now that he's back over hurdles? 

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