Confirmed runners and riders for the Paddy Power Gold Cup - plus an early tip

Ante-post favourite French Dynamite heads a field of 16 for the Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2.20) at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Darragh O’Keeffe, whose sole winner at Cheltenham came on Chatham Street Lad in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup in 2020, maintains the partnership with the Mouse Morris-trained chaser.

The Robcour-owned French Dynamite won two of his five starts during his novice chase campaign last season and returned with a win over hurdles at Thurles last month.

He will bid to become the first Irish-trained winner of the race since the Edward O’Grady-trained Tranquil Sea struck in 2009.

Five horses were not declared for the £160,000 contest, including Demachine, Shakem Up’arry and Fontaine Collonges.

Old Roan Chase third Ga Law and Stolen Silver, who was last seen winning a Grade 2 handicap chase at the track’s meeting in April, are among other leading contenders.

The 2020 winner Coole Cody, who was in front when falling at the second-last fence last year, has a third crack at the race, with Happygolucky, Galahad Quest, Slate House and topweight Mister Fisher among other course winners in the field.

Coole Cody: won this race two years agoCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Simply The Betts’ trainer Paul Nicholls is double handed with Il Ridoto, who finished third in a Grade 2 novice chase at Ayr’s Scottish National meeting in April, ridden by Harry Cobden.

Dan Skelton bids to win the race for the first time with Midnight River, who returned with a wide-margin win at Stratford last month.

Grade 1-winning hurdler Monmiral makes his chasing debut in the Arkle trial (1.45). He takes on Tommy's Oscar, Pentland Hills and Banbridge in the seven-runner event.

Bryony Frost has a ride in the concluding Listed mares' bumper (4.05) for Willie Mullins. She partners Williamstowndancer, a winner at Punchestown on debut last month.

Paddy Power Gold Cup runners and riders

Mister Fisher James Bowen
Editeur Du Gite Niall Houlihan (3)
Simply The Betts Mr David Maxwell (3)
Coole Cody Adam Wedge
Happygolucky David Bass
Stolen Silver Sam Twiston-Davies
French Dynamite Darragh O’Keeffe
Midnight River Harry Skelton
Umbrigado Tom Scudamore
Nassalam Jamie Moore
Ga Law Jonathan Burke
Il Ridoto Harry Cobden
Slate House Brendan Powell
Storm Control Richard Patrick
Galahad Quest David Noonan
Deyrann De Carjac Harry Kimber (5)

Paddy Power Gold Cup verdict 1-2-3 prediction

1. STOLEN SILVER
2. French Dynamite
3. Ga Law

Sam Thomas has won big handicap chases on the last two Saturdays and I fancy him to continue his winning spree with Stolen Silver. The seven-year-old left Nigel Twiston-Davies last summer and won two of his six starts for his new trainer, most recently taking a competitive handicap on the New course by 11 lengths from Simply The Betts in April. He goes well fresh and the lack of rain in the forecast suggests he will have conditions to suit.
Stuart Redding

This content was first published in Wednesday's Racing Post Weekender. Read more from Stuart and star Weekender contributors such as leading tipsters Tom Segal and Paul Kealy and exclusive columnist Alan King every week.

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