Confirmed runners and riders for the 2021 Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham

Connor Brace, a rising star of the weighing room, is confident Paint The Dream can outstrip his odds in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham () on Saturday.

Trained by Fergal O'Brien, Paint The Dream is owned by the rider's grandfather David Brace and was one of 20 declared for the Saturday showpiece on Thursday morning.

His rivals include leading ante-post fancies Protektorat, Lalor and Al Dancer, although the absence of Assemble means a 2lb rise in the weights, which are now headed by Simply The Betts and Protektorat.

Paddy Power Gold Cup: Saturday's runners and riders

Victory in the Paddy Power would be Brace's biggest in the saddle and he believes he has claims on the seven-year-old, who finished third in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown last season before a stylish win at Chepstow five weeks ago.

"He was 25-1 before confirmations and I couldn't believe it as he beat a good field easily at Chepstow," he said. "He wasn't beaten far in a Grade 1 on what turned out to be his final start last season at Sandown behind Sporting John on heavy ground, which probably suited the winner better. He's ultra consistent.

"He might not be overlooked and they might have priced him right, but I'd like to think they have overlooked him and that he has a great chance. This is a massive meeting and a massive race and it would be nice to walk back into that winner's enclosure with everybody cheering us."

Lalor: fancied runnerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Brace won the 2019 Scottish Champion Hurdle on Verdana Blue for Nicky Henderson, but added: "Winning a race like this on this horse, who is owned by Grandad and trained by Fergal, would be right at the top of my achievements.

"They have watered the ground and the top horses in the race who may want genuine winter good-to-soft ground and may not love that as much as he does.

"That could be a big advantage in a race like that as he is a horse who will go well on good ground, so hopefully that is in our favour."

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: "It's marvellous to have 20 runners meaning there is a lovely each-way feel to this famous race and in the build-up Lalor and Galahad Quest have been the two best-backed horses having originally been 20-1 and 33-1 respectively when we first priced it in late October."

Bob Olinger: future starCredit: Edward Whitaker

In Sunday's Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham, leading contender Haddex Des Obeaux will miss the race according to Gary Moore.

Speaking on Thursday, the trainer said: "Haddex Des Obeaux doesn't run as he's not at his best, but hopefully I'll have two runners there with Botox Has and Natural History, if he gets in."

Declarations were also made on Thursday for Punchestown's meeting on Saturday when Bob Olinger – the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle winner who promises to be one of the season's leading lights – makes his debut over fences in a 14-runner beginners' chase over 2m3½f ().

At Lingfield, The Last Lion, who was sent to stud after winning the Middle Park Stakes in 2016, runs for the first time since in the , while Saturday's card at the track also features the , in which Pyledriver appears for the first time since his Coronation Cup triumph in June.

Paddy Power Gold Cup
Paddy Power: 5 Protektorat, 6 Lalor, 8 Al Dancer, 9 Caribean Boy, 10 Midnight Shadow, 12 Galahad Quest, Simply The Betts, Zanza, 16 Coole Cody, Dostal Phil, Farinet, Nietzsche, 20 Manofthemountain, Paint The Dream, Spiritofthegames, Up The Straight, 25 Aso, Belargus, Deyrann De Carjac, Funky Dady

Paddy Power Gold Cup runners and riders

Simply The BettsBryony Frost
ProtektoratHarry Skelton
AsoCharlie Deutsch
Paint The DreamConnor Brace
Al DancerSam Twiston-Davies
LalorHarry Cobden
Caribean BoyDaryl Jacob
Midnight ShadowRyan Mania
SpiritofthegamesBridget Andrews
ManofthemountainTom Bellamy
ZanzaTom O'Brien
Dostal PhilAidan Coleman
CooleCodyAdam Wedge
Up The StraightTabitha Worsley
BelargusNiall Houlihan
DeyrannDe CarjacTom Cannon
Funky DadyShane Mulcahy
Galahad QuestDavid Noonan
FarinetRobbie Dunne
NietzscheDanny McMenamin

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