Paddy Power Gold Cup 2013

[Old Vic]

Marito entered in Morgiana the day after but only smoke and mirrors surely ? Irish trained horses have a dreadful record but if he turns up and Ruby rides will probably start near favourite. Trade in it at least.

[Yeehaa]

Think this is right now...

11/4642- FINIAN'S RAINBOW (IRE) 10-11-12 Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson
0/11121- DYNASTE (FR)* 7-11-08 John White* David Pipe
14133-6 WISHFULL THINKING 10-11-07 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
2/24251- CHAMPION COURT (IRE) 8-11-06 Mark Boothright Martin Keighley
4/F0211- KATENKO (FR) *7-11-06 A Brooks* Venetia Williams
2F1011- RAJDHANI EXPRESS 6-11-04 Robert Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson
2131-21 CONQUISTO **8-11-03 P J Martin* Steve Gollings
106F-21 HIDDEN CYCLONE (IRE) 8-11-01 Mrs A F Mee & David Mee John Hanlon IRE
133120-3 TEXAS JACK (IRE) *7-11-00 Robert Watson Noel Meade IRE
21125-U VINO GRIEGO (FR) *8-11-00 C E Stedman* Gary Moore
22P52-U WALKON (FR) *8-11-00 McNeill Family* Alan King
F0311-1 BATTLE GROUP* 8-10-13 Jolly Boys Outing Johnny Farrelly
3-22236 WOOLCOMBE FOLLY (IRE) 10-10-13 The Hon Mrs Townshend Paul Nicholls
141522-2 TAP NIGHT (USA)* 6-10-13 J P McManus* Lucinda Russell
1225F-0 KUMBESHWAR *6-10-11 McNeill Family & Nigel Bunter Alan King
0112//01/- SALUT FLO (FR)* 8-10-07 Allan Stennett* David Pipe
61P16-0 CARRICKBOY (IRE) 9-10-07 Trevor Hemmings Venetia Williams
61/0P10- BALLYNAGOUR (IRE) 7-10-06 Allan Stennett* David Pipe
40F-452 ASTRACAD (FR)* 7-10-05 Raymond Mould Nigel
31/214-P0 EASTER METEOR* 7-10-03 Mr & Mrs S C Willes Emma Lavelle


------corrected only 18 ran last year but max field is 20
3U3P15- NADIYA DE LA VEGA (FR) 7-10-03 J P McManus* Nicky Henderson
26033-1 JOHNS SPIRIT (IRE) 6-10-02 Christopher W T Johnston Jonjo O'Neill
F2/2425- COLOUR SQUADRON (IRE) 7-10-02 J P McManus* Philip Hobbs
2U2F/-60 GIFT OF DGAB (IRE) 9-10-01 Gigginstown House Stud Tony Martin IRE
53P-613 DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) 7-9-10* Options O Syndicate Nigel Twiston-Davies
3330-P2 ATTAGLANCE *7-9-08* H Young, G Eifert, R Snyder Malcolm Jefferson
4-P3120 SEAN AIRGEAD (IRE) 8-9-07* Brendan Flynn Mark McNiff IRE
U/606F0- TATENEN (FR)* 9-9-05* The Stewart Family Richard Rowe

[Sefton]

What Pipe said in his tour

Salut Flo 8g Saint Des Saints - Royale Marie Allan Stennett 8112/01/ RPR 151c, OR 148c From the comfort of the sofa here I’m able to follow his every move in his box from my laptop, thanks to a new bit of kit showing all the security cameras round the yard. It’s all a bit like Big Brother. I need to keep a close eye on him after all his problems. They started in the spring of 2012 when he was working at Punchestown and cut himself so deep he took a large chunk out of his hoof. That summer he got colic so badly he needed surgery, and colic-like symptoms persisted afterwards. But he picked up, has been back here six weeks and the signs are really good as he’s showing all his old zest. The engine and the ability is still there. It’s amazing really, but then he’s always been a tough customer. We’re thinking in terms of the Paddy Power Gold Cup and will take him for a racecourse gallop beforehand. When he won the 2012 Byrne Group Plate on his last appearance he was off 137; they put him up to 148 but he should be dropped for all the time off. After everything he has been through it will be great to see him back.

Ballynagour 7g Shantou - Simply Deep Allan Stennett 61/9P18- RPR 155c, OR 143c We needed to get him up in the ratings to ensure he got a run at Cheltenham but I didn’t expect him to win as impressively as he did at Warwick. I warned everyone his French form was a bit in and out, as he’d bled in the past, and sure enough he didn’t see his race out at the festival, having bled again. Following a nice long break he came back in a bit later than some of the others, and although he doesn’t take much getting ready, taking him back to Cheltenham for the Paddy Power Gold Cup may be too much of a rush. He could be the type to have just a couple of runs a season as he seems best fresh. Even off a 20lb higher mark than at Warwick I hope he can remain competitive.

Dynaste You could call him our flag bearer for this season but I hope he turns out better than last seasons flag bearer, Grands Crus. He had a great novice season; his owner John White reckons the Feltham win was his most impressive; I thought he was best at Cheltenham first time out. When he lost his unbeaten record at the festival a lot was said about whether we opted for the right race in going for the Jewson over the RSA, but I don’t think he would have won either race as he wasn’t quite at his best. At least he ended with a win at Aintree and that corrected a few misconceptions. He has the profile of a horse who is better in the first half of the season than in the second half, yet there he was winning a Grade 2 in April. Also, he’s been labelled as a horse who needs soft ground, probably due to his high knee action, yet there he was winning on good ground. He summered better than he usually does – like a lot of horses with the fine weather we had – and he’s well forward, like a bouncing ball waiting to explode, though not in any dangerous way. But I’m well aware he now has to up his game to compete with the big boys. Provided it’s on the soft side we plan to go to Wetherby on November 2 and start him in the Grade 2 3m hurdle, although the Charlie Hall will also be considered. That will serve as a prep for the Betfair Chase, one of his two big first-half targets along with the King George. Just to keep all options covered, he’ll also get an entry in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. If he’s going to win a Grade 1 in his second season it could be at Kempton on Boxing Day; the trip, likely ground and the time of year all make it the perfect target. We’re not looking any further forward than that at this stage

[mayo]

Champion Court

"I've been really pleased with his preparation. He had a nice racecourse gallop around Wincanton and I couldn't be happier with him. This race has always been the plan, it looks ideal. From the end of last season, we put him away for this as he runs well fresh. He's got everything in his favour and looking at the forecast it will be lovely, good ground," the Gloucestershire handler told At The Races.

[Old Vic]

Has Henderson said something about Finians in stable tour ? Big drifter on betfair.

[Morning Glory]

Has Henderson said something about Finians in stable tour ? Big drifter on betfair.

Leaning towards Sunday. I think he gets 6lbs from sire de grugy and wishful thinking. Well in with everything else in the handicap.

Sir de grugy to beat you would think. Not a given but 10lbs better off than when they meet at Sandown and beaten by under 2 lengths.

[Moscow]

Bullish update on Champion Court

Champion Court is a different horse compared to the end of last season and he loves it around Cheltenham," Keighley said.

"You need a horse that jumps and travels well and he does that. You look at his record there, even going back to novice hurdles, and it is very good.

"He has only finished out of the frame once there and that was when he struck into himself and picked up an injury."

Champion Court has not run since outpointing Menorah in the Silver Trophy Chase at the home of National Hunt racing in April. He beat Menorah off an official rating of 155, and races off 157 on Saturday.

"We have been targeting the Paddy Power Gold Cup because we still believe he is on a fair mark," Keighley added. "You look at his run in the King George, he had Grade One horses beat off level weights turning in, but he didn't get home in the ground.

"He's run some massive races there, including his first hurdle win in a Grade Two, and hopefully he will be thereabouts.

"I still think he is running off a fair mark, he only went up a few pounds for beating Menorah (over course and distance in April) when I thought he was on a competitive rating.

"The trip, ground and track are all in his favour."

[Moscow]

Think Twiston Davies horse over priced but might be worth holding off until see if he takes up Friday entry.