Royale Pagaille 'in at the deep end' as connections opt to go for Gold Cup

Venetia Williams has admitted Royale Pagaille will be "thrown in at the deep end" in Friday's WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup as the festival's last major quandary was resolved on Sunday when the exciting novice was pointed towards jump racing's most prestigious race.

After months of speculation over Royale Pagaille's festival target, Williams confirmed the decision to the Racing Post on Sunday and, following the move, the Rich and Susannah Ricci-owned seven-year-old was cut to a general 8-1 (from 10-1) for the Gold Cup.

WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup card and betting

With the Riccis responsible for odds-on favourite Monkfish in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, the National Hunt Chase was the main alternative, but Royale Pagaille did not appear in the final declarations for the 3m6f contest on a day when the field sizes for the festival's opening day were significantly down.

"We all had a meeting and the Gold Cup is the plan," Williams said. "We're throwing him in the deep end and I've always said it's a huge step up in class for him, and it will be helpful if we get some more rain between now and then."

Williams, who is also set to run Aso in the Gold Cup, added: "We're looking forward to being double-handed in the Gold Cup, which is certainly something I didn't envisage at the start of the season."

Venetia Williams: 'The Gold Cup is the plan'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Only three horses, two-time champion Al Boum Photo, last season's RSA Chase winner Champ and A Plus Tard, are shorter than Royale Pagaille in the Gold Cup betting.

Williams' stable star has undergone a remarkable transformation this season, winning on all three of his starts, most recently with a brilliant weight-carrying performance under Tom Scudamore in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock in January.

He has plenty of experience for a novice having raced 11 times over fences, the majority of those outings coming in France.

Earlier this month, Royale Pagaille was cut by bookmakers to 2-1 (from 9-2) for the National Hunt Chase – as well as being a mover on the exchanges – but at the time both Williams and Joe Chambers, racing manager for the Riccis, stressed the decision would be made late in the day.

Speaking on Sunday morning, Chambers said: "He's set for the Gold Cup. We spoke last night and Venetia was happy to go for the race and collectively that's what we agreed, assuming everything remains okay with Monkfish.

"Once the horse was okay this morning, we said we'd let people know before declarations for the National Hunt Chase.

"He's rated 166, whether he merits it or not time will tell, but we might as well find out in the Gold Cup than elsewhere and wonder whether we should have. He's been the surprise of the season and it's something to look forward to."

Royale Pagaille, who is due to be ridden by Charlie Deutsch at Cheltenham, will be bidding to emulate Coneygree, who in 2015 became the first novice to win the Gold Cup for more than 40 years.

He will be tasked with providing the Riccis, who have enjoyed 17 festival winners including Champion Hurdle winners Faugheen and Annie Power and other star names, a first Gold Cup victory, something Djakadam came close to doing with second-place finishes in 2015 and 2016.

Bet365 went 7-1 (from 8) after confirmation Royale Pagaille would run in the Gold Cup, and the firm’s Pat Cooney said: “We’re keen for him to be on our side as his official mark of 166 may well underestimate his form. We think 170 would be a more accurate assessment, and that would put him behind just Al Boum Photo and Native River.

“Any further rain between now and the Gold Cup would also increase his chances, and if that’s the case he’s bound to be well backed on the day.”

The absence of Royale Pagaille had a knock-on effect to the make-up of the National Hunt Chase field, with Paul Nicholls rerouting Next Destination from Wednesday's Brown Advisory, while David Pipe also confirmed Reynoldstown winner Remastered for the race.

Galvin has settled as the 2-1 market leader for the National Hunt Chase with Next Destination joining Escaria Ten as the next best at 4-1.

Royal Pagaille form details

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