Sam Thomas living the dream as he aims to plunder Paddy Power with Al Dancer

Sam Thomas conquered Cheltenham's greatest summit in the saddle and now he is chasing more success at the home of jump racing as a trainer as he prepares leading fancy Al Dancer for Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Thomas was one of the key players during a golden age of staying chasers, partnering the mighty Denman to a memorable Gold Cup success over Kauto Star in 2008.

After swapping riding for training six years ago, his second career took flight last season with a personal best of 26 winners and he has already enjoyed notable success this term when Before Midnight beat last season's Grand Annual winner Sky Pirate at Cheltenham last month.

Thomas is now hoping to plunder one of the track's biggest races outside the festival when Al Dancer, owned by his landlord Dai Walters, makes his first start for the yard in the prestigious Grade 3 handicap chase.

"He ran well in it last season and he's obviously retained plenty of ability so we thought we'd start off in this and go there fresh," said Thomas.

Al Dancer: leading fancy for Saturday's Paddy Power Gold CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

As well as finishing third in the race last season, Al Dancer, who will be partnered by regular rider Sam Twiston-Davies on Saturday, is already twice a winner at Cheltenham, winning over both hurdles and fences for former trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.

He has been with Thomas at his base near Cardiff since the end of last season. "He's been a dream to train and very straightforward," Thomas said. "He's a very nice horse to have on the yard and we're very lucky to have him. He's got some very good two-mile form and is a Betfair Hurdle winner.

"Perhaps he hasn't quite reached those heights over fences but he certainly retains lots of ability and I hope we can keep that vein of form going back over fences. It's what dreams are made of to be going to Cheltenham with chances like that in big races. Everyone works hard and to go to the big stage with horses like this is very special."

Watering takes place at Cheltenham ahead of Paddy Power Gold Cup meeting

Al Dancer, who was sent off the 5-1 favourite 12 months ago, is currently third best with the sponsors at 7-1 for Saturday's 2m4f contest, with Protektorat and Lalor vying for favouritism at 5-1.

Thomas is also set to saddle another leading fancy at Cheltenham on Friday when Stolen Silver lines up in the 2m handicap chase. An all-the-way winner at Market Rasen on his debut for the stable last month, there will be no messing around when the tapes go up on Friday.

Stolen Silver: will represent Sam Thomas on Friday at CheltenhamCredit: Grossick Racing

"He's likely to go to Cheltenham," said the trainer. "As you saw last time, he doesn't hang around and that's the way he'll be on Friday as well. It's going to be a lot tougher this time around but he goes there in good form and if he doesn't burn himself out too early he'd have a good chance.

"Having these good horses is what drives me. I said it as a jockey and it's no different really. When you've got Denman and the big boys to ride at the weekend, it's something that drives you and motivates you. For me training is very much the same. You have to work just as hard for a moderate horse as you do a big horse for a big day."

Thomas added that he plans to run Before Midnight in the Hurst Park Handicap Chase at Ascot on November 20.

Read these next:

Title-chasing Skelton primes stars for Cheltenham Paddy Power meeting

Surprise Cheltenham entry for Tiger Roll as Gordon Elliott weighs up Sunday run (Members' Club)

Watch live races through the Racing Post. Log in to your bookmaker account and look on the racecards for eligible races. Click the red 'Watch live now' icon and they're off! Find out how here