Paddy Power Gold Cup & Greatwood Hurdle Entries

Press release from Cheltenham:

SUPERB PADDY POWER GOLD CUP IN PROSPECT AT THE OPEN

GIFFORD AIMING TO STRIKE IN CHELTENHAM HIGHLIGHT WITH TULLAMORE DEW & NOMECHEKI

COMPREHENSIVE SHOWCASE WINNER KALANN SET TO RETURN FOR GREATWOOD HANDICAP HURDLE ​

An outstanding entry of 51 has been received for the £150,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.35pm), highlight of The Open at Cheltenham on Saturday, November 12.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has yet to taste glory in the two and a half-mile Grade Three handicap chase but the Ditcheat handler looks set to have a particularly strong hand this year with six entries including Mon Parrain, who heads the betting with Paddy Power at 5/1.

The progressive five-year-old made a striking British debut as he easily landed a Sandown handicap chase in March and produced another impressive round of jumping when coming home second over the Grand National fences in the Topham Chase at Aintree the following month.

Nicholls may also be represented by likely top-weight Poquelin (20/1), who triumphed at Cheltenham last season in both the Grade Three December Gold Cup and the Grade Two Masterson Holdings Trophy Chase, plus Grade One Maghull Novices’ Chase runner-up Ghizao (12/1), Aerial (16/1), The Knoxs (20/1) and exciting French import Kauto Stone (20/1), a half-brother to dual Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star.

Nick Gifford, whose father Josh sent out Bradbury Star to victory in 1993 & 1994, is hoping to run his unexposed pair of Tullamore Dew (16/1) and Nomecheki (33/1), who both made pleasing returns over the weekend.

Tullamore Dew, fifth in the Grade Three Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow on Saturday, boasts an excellent record at Cheltenham, having been runner-up to Spirit Son in the Grade Three Coral Cup at The Festival in 2010 and taken third behind the Ferdy Murphy-trained Divers (10/1) in the Listed Centenary Novices’ Handicap Chase in March.

Dual Plumpton scorer Nomecheki is set to step up in trip after coming home second behind Grade One winner Tataniano in an extended two-mile handicap chase, also at Chepstow on Saturday.

Gifford revealed: “The plan is for Tullamore Dew to run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. I couldn’t be happier with him after his run at the weekend. He needed every yard of the two and a half miles at Chepstow and, because they go that bit quicker over hurdles, it caught him out a little bit but he was doing all of his best work at the end. That will have put him spot on for Cheltenham.

“He is a good jumper and he loves Cheltenham - he’s run two very good races there over the past two years. Ideally, we would like good to soft ground but he is a very versatile horse.

“We think that he is going to end up over three miles at some point in his career and it might be this season. The Paddy Power Gold Cup will tell us a lot about where we go with him for the rest of the campaign.

“Nomecheki also ran well at Chepstow and he is a horse who is probably not quite good enough over two miles, so we will step him up in trip and I think that he will appreciate a race like the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

“He is a very sound jumper with not too many miles on the clock. He travelled very well on Saturday but was totally outclassed by the winner - they think that Tataniano is a Tingle Creek horse, so it was no disgrace to come home second behind him.”

Other notable contenders include the Philip Hobbs-trained Wishfull Thinking (8/1), who beat Grade One victor Medermit (16/1), from the stable of Alan King, in the Grade Two Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April, and the David Pipe-trained Great Endeavour (12/1), successful in the Grade Three Byrne Plate at The Festival in 2010.

Nicky Henderson sent out subsequent Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup scorer Long Run to take third in last year’s Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Seven Barrows trainer has entered Centenary Novices’ Handicap Chase runner-up Quantitativeeasing (16/1), Dave’s Dream (20/1), a ready winner at last year’s Open, and Aigle D’Or (20/1).

Nigel Twiston-Davies is the only current trainer to have saddled more than one winner in the Paddy Power Gold Cup thanks to Tipping Tim (1992), Imperial Commander (2008) and last season’s hero Little Josh, and a trio of entries from the Naunton handler includes Billie Magern (25/1), who scored over the same course and distance in the ZEturf.com Handicap Chase at The Showcase on October 15.

Irish trainers have won the Paddy Power Gold Cup five times and a total of nine Irish-trained entries include Noble Prince (14/1), who captured the Grade Two Jewson Novices’ Chase for trainer Paul Nolan at this year’s Festival from Wishfull Thinking, and the Henry de Bromhead-trained Loosen My Load (14/1), who took third in the same race.

Noel Meade may be represented by recent Munster National winner Muirhead (20/1), while Willie Mullins has entered this year’s Galway Plate scorer Blazing Tempo (20/1) and Scotsirish (33/1).

The weights for the 2011 Paddy Power Gold Cup are released on Wednesday, November 2.

Paddy Power Gold Cup - Paddy Power bet:
5 Mon Parrain, 8 Wishfull Thinking, 10 Divers, 12 Ghizao, Great Endeavour, 14 Noble Prince, Loosen My Load, 16 Medermit, Quantitativeeasing, Sunnyhillboy, Tullamore Dew, Aerial, 20 Poquelin, Muirhead, Holmwood Legend, Dave's Dream, The Giant Bolster, Noble Alan, Fine Parchment, Blazing Tempo, Quartz de Thaix, The Knoxs, Aigle d'Or, Shoreacres, Kauto Stone, 25 Gauvain, Oiseau de Nuit, Zaarito, Finger Onthe Pulse, Calgary Bay, Cape Tribulation, Pure Faith, Billie Magern, Gansey, Vino Griego, 33 Scotsirish, Gilbarry, Tatenen, Araldur, Swincombe Rock, Hector's Choice, Nomecheki, Buck Mulligan, Pigeon Island, Stormin Exit, Persian Gates, Ad Idem, 40 Pickamus, Norther Bay, 50 Rio Gael, 66 Misstree Dancer
Each Way 1/4 odds 1,2,3,4

 

COMPREHENSIVE SHOWCASE WINNER KALANN SET TO RETURN FOR GREATWOOD HANDICAP HURDLE

Some of the leading contenders in the hurdling division will also be on show at The Open in the feature race on Sunday, November 13, the £100,000 Grade Three Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (2.20pm), which has attracted a top-quality entry of 45.

The extended two-mile contest has been a springboard for future champions in recent years, most notably Rooster Booster, who followed up success in the 2002 renewal with victory in the Stan James Champion Hurdle the following spring. This year’s sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase victor Sizing Europe took the spoils in 2007.

Among those hoping to advertise their claims for the Stan James Champion Hurdle is the Nicky Henderson-trained Grandouet (9/1 favourite for the Greatwood Hurdle with Paddy Power), who was third in last season’s Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle before beating Kumbeshwar (10/1), representing Alan King, in Punchestown’s Grade One 4YO Champion Hurdle in May.

Henderson has also entered A Media Luz (12/1) and Gibb River (16/1), while Gary Moore could be represented by Sire de Grugy (12/1), who was a convincing winner of the Grade Two Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton in February.

Sabrina Harty is hoping that fellow four-year-old Kalann (16/1) can continue his rise through the hurdling ranks. The Barathea gelding, one of nine Irish-trained entries, posted an emphatic 14-length success over the same course and distance in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle at The Showcase on October 15.

Harty revealed: “We were going to give Kalann a holiday but he came back from Cheltenham so fresh that we could well head back there for the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle if the rain stays away.


“He is a May foal and he has done a lot of growing all year. The ground was a little dead when he ran at Punchestown in May and but he probably had a bit of growing to do - he looked big amongst the other horses at The Showcase, which proved that he has grown a bit through the year.

“He seemed to really enjoy running at Cheltenham - he is a bit of a showman and he loved the crowds. It’s hard to know what he beat there as he was rated higher than the others on his Flat form and I just hope that his mark doesn’t go up too much.

“It’s very hard to know how good he is at the moment but good ground is the key to him, because he can’t quicken when it’s soft. We have always thought quite a lot of him and he has taken to hurdles very easily.

“He still has a bit of strengthening up to do and he is going to be an even better horse next year. The dam’s family were a bit backward and we are hoping that he will get stronger with time.”

Khyber Kim (14/1) stormed to victory for Nigel Twiston-Davies in 2009 before going on to chase home Binocular in that season’s Stan James Champion Hurdle and the nine-year-old, a Grade One winner at Aintree in April, 2010, could return to handicap company alongside the Paul Nicholls-trained Celestial Halo (20/1), who was beaten a neck by Punjabi in the 2009 Stan James Champion Hurdle.

Nicholls may also be represented by recent Chepstow handicap hurdle scorer Domtaline (10/1), Brampour (10/1) and Sanctuaire (16/1), who captured the Grade Two Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr in April.

Overturn (16/1) has performed admirably at the highest level for trainer Donald McCain, most notably when filling the runner-up spot in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle last season, while Topolski (14/1) completed a progressive first season over hurdles with victory in the Grade Two Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National Meeting.

The Paul Flynn-trained Moon Dice (20/1), successful in the Galway Hurdle in July, Grade One Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle victor Marsh Warbler (20/1), from the stable of Brian Ellison, and the Colin Tizzard-trained Third Intention (14/1) also feature among the entries.

The weights for the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle are released on Wednesday, November 2.

Greatwood Hurdle - Paddy Power bet:
9 Grandouet, 10 Kumbeshwar, Domtaline, Brampour, 12 Sire de Grugy, A Media Luz, 14 Khyber Kim, Topolski, Third Intention, 16 Overturn, Kalann, Sanctuaire, Jack Cool, Gibb River, Oldrik, 20 Celestial Halo, Marsh Warbler, Alarazi, Olofi, Via Galilei, Elsafeer, Pateese, Ultimate, Inspector Clouseau, Moon Dice, 25 Bygones of Brid, The Betchworth Kid, Act of Kalanisi, Tawaagg, Palawi, Harry Tricker, Abergavenny, Priors Gold, Alazan, 33 Nearby, Son of Flicka, Alasi, Drill Sergeant, Viva Colonia, Deutschland, Tarkari, 40 First Fandango, Andhaar, Eightybarackstreet, Wee Giant
Each Way 1/4 odds 1,2,3,4

 

THE PADDY POWER GOLD CUP
Class 1, Grade 3, £150,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.35pm, Cheltenham, Saturday, November 12, 2011. For four year olds and upwards, two miles, four furlongs. Penalties: after October 30, a winner of a chase 5lb. No penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed October 25, entries revealed October 26 (51 entries), weights revealed Wednesday, November 2, five-day confirmation stage November 7, final declaration stage 10.00am, November 10. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, October 24. May not include some overseas form.​

Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
F2122-P AD IDEM 7 Mrs A F Mee/T J Cunningham Pauline Gavin IRE
5F4012- AERIAL (FR) 5 Tony Hayward and Barry Fulton Paul Nicholls
60/10-53 AIGLE D'OR 8 J P McManus Nicky Henderson
522211- ARALDUR (FR) 7 David Sewell Alan King
35020-1 BILLIE MAGERN 7 Roger Nicholls Nigel Twiston-Davies
125-214 BLAZING TEMPO (IRE) 7 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
1-35422 BUCK MULLIGAN 6 L Fell Evan Williams
56242F- CALGARY BAY (IRE) 8 Camilla Radford Henrietta Knight
40/1P22- CAPE TRIBULATION 7 J David Abell Malcolm Jefferson
1340/10- DAVE'S DREAM (IRE) 8 David Murdoch & Jenny Murdoch Nicky Henderson
315(0)11- DIVERS (FR) 7 Let's Live Racing Ferdy Murphy
1021U-2 FINE PARCHMENT (IRE) 8 N W A Bannister Charlie Mann
300-001 FINGER ONTHE PULSE (IRE) 10 J P McManus Tom Taaffe IRE
010FP-3 GANSEY (IRE) 9 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith
1//15520- GAUVAIN (GER) 9 Jared Sullivan & Simon Brown Nick Williams
0/21152- GHIZAO (GER) 7 The Johnson & Stewart Families Paul Nicholls
1/1351-F GILBARRY (IRE) 6 Mrs Peter Bond Jonjo O'Neill
41/62F6- GREAT ENDEAVOUR (IRE) 7 David Johnson David Pipe
4/031P-1 HECTOR'S CHOICE (FR) 7 James and Jean Potter Richard Lee
52F112- HOLMWOOD LEGEND 10 Brian Derrick Kieran Burke
261103- KAUTO STONE (FR) 5 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls
43-2512 LOOSEN MY LOAD (IRE) 7 Alan & Ann Potts Partnership Henry de Bromhead IRE
R12142- MEDERMIT (FR) 7 The Dunkley & Reilly Partnership Alan King
214U34- MISSTREE DANCER 7 Sarah Faulks Nick Mitchell
12/5312- MON PARRAIN (FR) 5 John & Barbara Cotton Paul Nicholls
5-63141 MUIRHEAD (IRE) 8 Mrs Pat Sloan Noel Meade IRE
13F0-4U NOBLE ALAN (GER) 8 Craig Bennett Nicky Richards
4/1221-F NOBLE PRINCE (GER) 7 Des Sharkey Paul Nolan IRE
30/02P-2 NOMECHEKI (FR) 9 The Stewart Family Nick Gifford
3-F124U NORTHER BAY (FR) 8 Martina Griffin Eoin Griffin IRE
403124- OISEAU DE NUIT (FR) 9 Terry Warner Colin Tizzard
241-211 PERSIAN GATES (IRE) 7 Mrs Robert Bingley & Mrs Bryan Spooner Chris Bealby
5F06F-2 PICKAMUS (FR) 8 Neville Statham & Family Henry Daly
300304- PIGEON ISLAND 8 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
U/25141- POQUELIN (FR) 8 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
21F342 PURE FAITH (IRE) 7 P Bowling, S Scott, R Harvey & Karen Bowen Peter Bowen
0/0112-0 QUANTITATIVEEASING (IRE) 6 J P McManus Nicky Henderson
066110- QUARTZ DE THAIX (FR) 7 ROA Arkle Partnership Venetia Williams
3R4215 RIO GAEL (IRE) 5 Karen Bowen Peter Bowen
153363 SCOTSIRISH (IRE) 10 Double R Stables Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
33F/10-F SHOREACRES (IRE) 8 David Nash Brendan Powell
0010-61 STORMIN EXIT (IRE) 8 Fyffees & Robinson Jim Goldie
12/03F-3 SUNNYHILLBOY (IRE) 8 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
1/114P-2 SWINCOMBE ROCK 6 Mills & Mason Partnership Nigel Twiston-Davies
363100- TATENEN (FR) 7 The Stewart Family Richard Rowe
1F1UF-4 THE GIANT BOLSTER 6 Simon Hunt David Bridgwater
05/FF11- THE KNOXS (IRE) 8 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls
12123-5 TULLAMORE DEW (IRE) 9 Give Every Man His Due Nick Gifford
563234- VINO GRIEGO (FR) 6 C E Stedman Gary Moore
12121-1 WISHFULL THINKING 8 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
FF1F0/2- ZAARITO (IRE) 9 Victoria Syndicate Colm Murphy IRE

51 Entries
9 Irish-trained

 

THE GREATWOOD HANDICAP HURDLE
Class 1, Grade 3, £100,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.20pm, Cheltenham, Sunday, November 13, 2011. For four year olds and upwards, two miles and a half furlong. Penalties, after October 30, a winner of a hurdle race 5lb. No penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed October 25, entries released October 26 (45 entries), weights revealed Wednesday, November 2, six-day confirmation stage November 7, final declaration stage 10.00am, November 11. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including Monday, October 24. May not include some overseas form.​

Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
02F1P0- A MEDIA LUZ (FR) 4 Richard & Lizzie Kelvin Hughes Nicky Henderson
111 ABERGAVENNY 4 Dan Gilbert & Kristian Strangeway Brian Ellison
1041- ACT OF KALANISI (IRE) 5 C E Stedman & Dr Richard Newland Dr Richard Newland
322104- ALARAZI (IRE) 7 Johnny Eddis Lucy Wadham
52342-0 ALASI 7 Shully Liebermann Paul Webber
1410-03 ALAZAN (IRE) 5 Caren Walsh & R J Budge Philip Hobbs
41130-0 ANDHAAR 5 P J Martin Steve Gollings
3100- BRAMPOUR (IRE) 4 Banks, Blackshaw & Gannon Paul Nicholls
(6)U0202- BYGONES OF BRID (IRE) 8 James Callow Karen McLintock
333210- CELESTIAL HALO (IRE) 7 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
0PF-400 DEUTSCHLAND (USA) 8 Allan McLuckie Willie Mullins IRE
310F-1 DOMTALINE (FR) 4 John & Barbara Cotton Paul Nicholls
042-010 DRILL SERGEANT 6 Tim Leslie Donald McCain
214164 EIGHTYBARACKSTREET (IRE) 5 N Hartery Thomas Cooper IRE
0//-21211 ELSAFEER (IRE) 6 Delamere Cottage Racing Partners (1996) Tim Vaughan
110-3 FIRST FANDANGO 4 WRB Racing 40 & Premier Chance Racing Tim Vaughan
1110- GIBB RIVER (IRE) 5 Corbett Stud Nicky Henderson
2113B-1 GRANDOUET (FR) 4 Simon Munir Nicky Henderson
2F/11(4)4- HARRY TRICKER 7 Richard Green Gary Moore
203232 INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU (IRE) 6 Allan McLuckie Willie Mullins IRE
012-153 JACK COOL (IRE) 5 Relic Pride Partnership Charles Byrnes IRE
250-131 KALANN (IRE) 4 K McConnell Sabrina Harty IRE
121/406- KHYBER KIM 9 Caroline Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
13322-2 KUMBESHWAR 4 McNeill Family & Nigel Bunter Alan King
31110- MARSH WARBLER 4 Dan Gilbert & Kristian Strangeway Brian Ellison
2346-11 MOON DICE (IRE) 6 Three Friers Cross Syndicate Paul Flynn IRE
50-2232 NEARBY 7 Andy Ash Philip Hobbs
20520/5- OLDRIK (GER) 8 D J Jones Philip Hobbs
4/2530-4 OLOFI (FR) 5 R & L Channing S & F Roberts McNeill Family Tom George
12503-1 OVERTURN (IRE) 7 Tim Leslie Donald McCain
0211F-4 PALAWI (IRE) 4 Bob McMillan John Quinn
321230- PATEESE (FR) 6 The Test Valley Partnership Philip Hobbs
23F323 PRIORS GOLD 4 Sean Gallagher Gordon Elliott IRE
3/F301P- SANCTUAIRE (FR) 5 Jared Sullivan Paul Nicholls
2(4)1113- SIRE DE GRUGY (FR) 5 Preston Family & Friends Gary Moore
5322F-0 SON OF FLICKA 7 Twenty Four Seven Recruitment Donald McCain
50-0355 TARKARI (IRE) 6 Clive Cook & Irving Struel Evan Williams
13-0034 TAWAAGG 7 Eamonn Duignan Willie Mullins IRE
3P/4040- THE BETCHWORTH KID 6 Henry Ponsonby Alan King
12201- THIRD INTENTION (IRE) 4 Robert and Sarah Tizzard Colin Tizzard
111- TOPOLSKI (IRE) 5 P M Claydon David Arbuthnot
5035P-1 ULTIMATE 5 Dan Gilbert Brian Ellison
21235-4 VIA GALILEI (IRE) 6 C E Stedman Gary Moore
0-32110 VIVA COLONIA (IRE) 6 Bolingbroke Racing, Mersey Racing David O'Meara
004053 WEE GIANT (USA) 5 Sandra McCarthy Willie Mullins IRE

45 Entries
9 Irish-trained

 

A paul nicholls double on the card??

Mon Parrain and Sanctuaire maybe??

Or maybe even Kauto Stone/ Celestial Halo??

We will have to wait and see?

 

I like Daves Dream for the Paddy Power chase, has top course form and goes well fresh.

For the Greatwood I love Grandouet but I'm afraid the course doesn't suit his style, he looks like he wants a flatter track (I'd keep him for the Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdle before a sping campaign at Aintree and Punchestown).
Celestial Halo would interest me after his breathing op as he's got the class to win it and his mark could be lower than some now after a slightly poor season last season ??