PP GOLD CUP
Saturday 16th November, 2:20pm
Ginny’s Destiny @ 11/4
Ga Law @ 6/1
Imagine @ 7/1
Il Ridoto @ 7/1
Protektorat @ 10/1
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
THE RACE
We’re back at Cheltenham for the November Meeting, with, central to the three days, the £150,000 premier handicap chase (2-20), staged over two and a half miles and sixteen fences on the (sharper) old course.
Paul Nicholls has a particularly strong hand, while success for the Jamie Snowden-trained Ga Law would make the eight-year-old the sixth horse to pull off a repeat, but the first in over twenty years.
THE MARKET
It’s been hard not to be struck by the enthusiasm displayed by Harry Cobden as he prepares for the mount on the Nicholls’ Ginny’s Destiny, a forward-going, big-jumping eight-year-old which relishes life in this corner of the Cotswolds and was runner-up at Grade One level at the Festival; there are obvious similarities to the stable’s 2023 winner Stage Star.
Stablemate Il Ridito has finished third and fourth in the last two stagings of this, and second in the big December handicap chase twelve months ago, and his weight level is attractive, especially with an extra three pounds off.
Nicholls’ nephew Harry Derham saddles ante-post gamble Imagine on stable debut having been sold out of Gordon Elliott’s for big-money. As with several of these, drier ground conditions than he’s maybe previously encountered are a slight question mark – and a lack of experience – but there’s plenty to like about both his limited chase and his top-notch hurdles form to date.
Ga Law has come out on top when he and Il Ridito have met before, not least when they were first and fourth in this race two years ago; however, Ga Law, a fine second on his return at Chepstow, has been steadily climbing up the weights.
In Excelsis Deo is another which certainly relishes the challenges of Cheltenham and the stable is running into some form. Protektorat, second in 2021, is clearly a class act, as acknowledged by his being clear topweight, and the burden makes him vulnerable.
There’s been no Irish winner of this Cheltenham race for fifteen years, but the Henry de Bromhead-trained Let’s Go Champ brings good form, including from Galway, to the party, while down-in-distance Hartur d’Arc represents Gavin Cromwell whose early-season runners at the track should always be feared.
What a pity Weveallbeencaught is quite so far out of the weights because there’s a nice prize in him at some point.
THE WINNER
I can see Ginny’s Destiny going off in front and staying there – you?
CORN’S QUARTET
Trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero have been notably lucky for JP McManus – think Iroko and, this week, Jagwar – and it would be no surprise if Chepstow winner My Noble Lord continued that good fortune (12-35).
Strictlyadancer (1-10) gets another chance from me especially with the talented Mr Gleeson on board.
Lookaway (1-45) has a Dan Skelton hotpot with which to deal, but what a solid hurdler he was, plus he made the smoothest chasing debut.
Ben Pauling’s operation is packed with progressive types, and that certainly includes Champagne Twist (3-30).
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