2024 Paddy Power Gold Cup: the runners, the odds, the verdict
Paul Nicholls bids for back-to-back victories in the highlight event of Cheltenham's November meeting when Ginny's Destiny lines up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2.20) on Saturday against a possible 14 rivals.
Get the lowdown on all of the Paddy Power Gold Cup contenders, including their trainers and jockeys plus big-race odds, in our comprehensive runner-by-runner guide to the premier handicap.
2024 Paddy Power Gold Cup: the full list of horses for Cheltenham
1 Protektorat
Topweights have traditionally fared poorly in this race and Protektorat has a formidable challenge to buck the trend, with just three of the last ten winners carrying more than 11st. The nine-year-old's last run on good ground was in this race in 2021, when he finished a close second to Midnight Shadow, and he has proven his class on softer surfaces with two Grade 1 wins since, including in last season's Ryanair. His smart Cheltenham record is a plus, but he carries 8lb more than his closest rival.
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Jockey: Harry Skelton
Weight: 12st
Forecast odds: 12-1
2 Ga Law
Ga Law ticks a lot of boxes for Saturday's contest, with conditions, trip and track all set to play into his favour. The eight-year-old is 2-2 in handicaps at Cheltenham, including victory in this race two years ago, and made an encouraging seasonal return last month at Chepstow, where he finished second to a rival with a 22lb weight advantage. Jamie Snowden has proven adept at targeting big handicaps and Ga Law's preference for good ground will ensure he's a live contender.
Trainer: Jamie Snowden
Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Weight: 11st 2lb
Forecast odds: 6-1
3 Ginny's Destiny
Paul Nicholls landed his third Paddy Power with Stage Star 12 months ago and he saddles a similar type in Ginny's Destiny, who steps out of novice contests for the first time. This race has been the early season target for the eight-year-old and Nicholls, who hit form this month, will be keen to add to his trophy haul. Ginny's Destiny is yet to win first-time-out but Nicholls will have him as fit as possible and the classy novice is primed for a strong start in open company.
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Jockey: Harry Cobden
Weight: 11st 2lb
Forecast odds: 3-1
4 Editeur Du Gite
Editeur Du Gite is another Cheltenham Grade 1 winner in the Paddy Power line-up but has struggled to retain his top form since landing the Clarence House in January 2023. His last win was in the Desert Orchid Chase in December but he was pulled up on two of his three most-recent starts, and he returned from a 159-day break to finish ninth of ten at Chepstow last month. A big revival will be needed to be a factor here.
Trainers: Gary and Josh Moore
Jockey: Niall Houlihan
Weight: 11st 1lb
Forecast odds: 33-1
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5 Janidil
The Paddy Power Gold Cup is one of the few major races Willie Mullins has yet to win but he sends out a Grade 1 winner of his own in Janidil. The JP McManus-owned runner seeks to become the first horse aged ten or over to win since 1975, which may be a tough trend to overcome as he has failed to win since February last year. He was a well-backed favourite at Galway last time out but was unable to deliver and first-time blinkers will need to have a marked effect.
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Brian Hayes
Weight: 11st
Forecast odds: 16-1
6 Fugitif
Fugitif has become a mainstay in Cheltenham handicaps and he finally claimed his first success at the track in last year's December Gold Cup. He finished runner-up in two more premier handicaps in 2023 before running an admirable third in the Clarence House under Gavin Sheehan in January. Sean Bowen is an able deputy for Sheehan, who is booked on Ga Law, and Fugitif off a 1lb lower mark than when fourth 12 months ago.
Trainer: Richard Hobson
Jockey: Sean Bowen
Weight: 10st 13lb
Forecast odds: 14-1
7 Imagine
An exciting new talent for Harry Derham. Imagine is 2-3 over fences and is a smart prospect in open company. The six-year-old was purchased for €320,000 in the Caldwell dispersal sale and is liable to bounce back from a disappointment at Punchestown when last seen, particularly given Derham's talent with new recruits. His handicap mark of 145 may underestimate him.
Trainer: Harry Derham
Jockey: Paul O'Brien
Weight: 10st 6lb
Forecast odds: 5-1
8 Jetoile
Jetoile has run respectably at Cheltenham in the past but is likely to need a career-best performance to be in contention here. Winner of the Old Roan last year, he was a notable disappointment on his debut this season, finishing last of ten at Chepstow in October. That effort earned him a Racing Post Rating of just 85, and while a big effort is required, he is down 2lb in the handicap and talented conditional Dylan Johnston takes off an extra 3lb.
Trainer: Ryan Potter
Jockey: Dylan Johnston
Weight: 10st 6lb
Odds: 25-1
9 In Excelsis Deo
The six-year-old has a smart record for Harry Fry, finishing outside the top three just once in all completed starts since December 2022. His wins include a Grade 2 success at Cheltenham in April on good ground but he can be a messy jumper, with mistakes costing him a chance in the Galway Plate last time out. He has continued to progress year-on-year and a return to form could be on the cards, provided he jumps sensibly.
Trainer: Harry Fry
Jockey: Bryan Carver
Weight: 10st 4lb
Odds: 10-1
10 Lets Go Champ
With just nine runs to his name, Lets Go Champ is one of the more lightly raced runners in Saturday's contest but he is not short on class. The nine-year-old has steadily improved in the care of Henry de Bromhead, landing a Grade 3 handicap at the Punchestown festival before finishing sixth in the Galway Plate when last seen.
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Jockey: Mike O'Connor
Weight: 10st 2lb
Odds: 12-1
11 Hartur D'Arc
The seven-year-old moved to Gavin Cromwell's yard this year and immediately made an impression, scoring by over seven lengths at Clonmel in February before following up at Listed level at Naas a month later. A step up to three miles and five furlongs failed to pay off in the Irish National but this trip may be more to his liking, though softer conditions would play to his advantage.
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Weight: 10st 2lb
Odds: 20-1
12 Madara
Madara was a smart chaser over two miles when trained by Sophie Leech, winning at Cheltenham on soft ground and again at the Dublin Racing Festival. The five-year-old's last run with Leech was less successful when ninth in the Grand Annual, and he failed to fire again at Ascot two weeks ago. Now trained by Dan Skelton, but the Paddy Power was Madara's aim long before his Ascot run and he is unexposed over this trip.
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Jockey: Tristan Durrell
Weight: 10st 2lb
Odds: 25-1
13 Il Ridoto
Il Ridoto is another Cheltenham regular and should by no means be ignored despite being Nicholls' second string. He won a premier handicap over a similar trip here and was third behind Stage Star last year, so is well poised to put up another strong effort off a 3lb lower mark. Freddie Gingell takes off an extra 3lb and he should strip fitter for his pipe-opener at Chepstow last month.
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Jockey: Freddie Gingell
Weight: 10st 2lb
Forecast odds: 6-1
14 Straw Fan Jack
Returning from a seven-month layoff, Straw Fan Jack lines up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup for the first time but posted his joint-best RPR at the track when winning as a novice chaser two years ago. He has returned to the course three times since, finishing in the top four twice, most recently when a creditable third behind Shakem Up'Arry in the Plate. Two of his four wins have come on good ground, plus one on good to firm, so conditions shouldn't pose a problem.
Trainer: Sheila Lewis
Jockey: Sean Houlihan
Weight: 10st 2lb
Odds: 25-1
15 Weveallbeencaught
Weveallbeencaught is 0-7 over fences but went close last time out when just half a length behind winner Lisnamult Lad at the October meeting. He went up 7lb for that effort but things may be starting to click for the seven-year-old, who was touted as a future Gold Cup horse when trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies. His two efforts with Christian Williams have been encouraging, most recently on good ground, and the cheekpieces remain on.
Trainer: Christian Williams
Jockey: Jack Tudor
Weight: 10st 2lb
Odds: 20-1
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The verdict: our top Paddy Power Gold Cup tip
By Steve Boow, Spotlight tipster
All the signs look extremely good for IMAGINE, who is taken to make a successful debut for Harry Derham and will be particularly interesting if the market signals are positive. The ex-Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old is open to further progress for his new stable and appears very well handicapped on plenty of form, including some good performances against Inothewayurthinkin who created a big impression at major festivals last spring.
Ga Law, who holds a solid chance in his bid for a second success in this contest, is next on the shortlist ahead of Ditcheat runners Ginny's Destiny and Il Ridoto who both hold obvious claims.
Read these next:
Confirmed runners and riders for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham - plus a big-race tip
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