Keith Melrose: why tactics will be crucial in a finely balanced Paddy Power
Saturday: 2.15 Cheltenham
Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | 2m4f | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV
You might be thinking: here we go. This monomaniac is going to point out that Coole Cody winning last year's Paddy Power from the front is another little tick for his theory about prominent racers over fences at Cheltenham.
But no. In this race last year, the credit belongs solely to winning jockey Tom O'Brien. His was just about the ride of the season, right down to going just fast enough that Gavin Sheehan, who headed the main pack on Simply The Betts, called his bluff. O'Brien was not bluffing.
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