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14:20 Cheltenham

Saturday 18 November 2023

All12:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:05

Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 5m 13.26s

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Selected odds by:

The Real Whacker²⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P Neville| OR: 162| C

13/2

Looks a high-class chaser in the making and is unbeaten over fences, all 3 of his wins coming here from the front, holding on from the equally-promising Gerri Colombe in the Broadway when last seen. Record fresh not great and has a huge weight to carry, but no surprise if he's up to the task.

Form: 12/0111-

Stage Star²¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 155| BF| CD

4/1

Excelled over fences last season, following up his victory in the traditionally-strong Timeform novice handicap here with victory in the Grade 1 Golden Miller at the Festival. No show at Aintree after but 3-3 first time up since his debut and a big run is surely on the cards.

Form: 121115-

Fugitif^p1,t²¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: R Hobson| OR: 153

12/1

Came of age and looked a lot more mature last season, winning at Chepstow over Christmas and then second in good handicaps over this trip on the New Course, no match for Seddon in the Magners Plate at the Festival. Not so great at Aintree but could return with a big run in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 8/21225-

Authorized Art⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| D

22/1

Useful novice chaser who has returned with improved efforts in cheekpieces to finish in the frame in the Galway Plate and Kerry National the last twice, a pair of unexposed novices and a rejuvenated veteran just too strong for him at Listowel. This is even tougher.

Form: 4456-24

Notlongtillmay²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan| OR: 152| D

7/1

Immediate improvement switched to fences for this yard last season, winning novice handicaps on first 3 starts before an excellent 3¼ lengths second to Stage Star in the Golden Miller at the Festival. Encouraging return over 2m here and couldn't be dismissed back up in trip.

Form: 1/1112-4

Final Orders^t1³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: D J Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 148| D

33/1

Has won handicaps on the level and over hurdles at Bellewstown this term but has underperformed on all 3 completed starts over fences since racking up a 5-timer last season (little impression at Chepstow 5 weeks ago). Tongue tie goes on now and probably still high enough in the weights.

Form: 15F-014

Unexpected Party^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 146

5/1

Emerged with credit against some of the top-flight British novice chasers of 2022/23 (chased home Stage Star twice here) and made a fine return as he saw off Knappers Hill in listed Chepstow novice 5 weeks ago. He'll win a good handicap or 2 this season.

Form: 32353-1

Il Ridoto^p,t²¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 144| C

12/1

In first-time cheekpieces, finally put it all together to land good handicap over this trip on the New Course here on Trials Day from Fugitif, finding an end-product to go with his strong-travelling ways. Fair run in the Plate after but lacklustre in the Topham final start. Needs a bit more.

Form: 3/4416P-

Whistleinthedark²⁰⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: K Brogan| T: L Morgan| OR: 144| D

33/1

Ended last season unbeaten over fences, easily winning Perth handicap over this trip final start. Likeable attitude and could have more to offer this term, this big-field scenario likely to suit him. 1 of 2 interesting runners for his yard.

Form: 3/21111-

Angels Breath²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Burke| T: S Thomas| OR: 144

15/2

Must be extremely fragile but came back from a long absence to show promise in a couple of starts over fences last season and built on those after a further 7 months off as he ran a cracker in handicap hurdle here 3 weeks ago. On a tempting mark if building on that for red-hot yard.

Form: 311/P2-2

Black Gerry²²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 142| D

40/1

Won all 4 of his starts when completing last season, seeing off five rivals with another polished display in Plumpton handicap over this trip final start. Whole different test on return here but yard knows what it takes to win this.

Form: 11PP11-

Easy As That²⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 141| BF| D

10/1

Looked a potentially smart chaser as he easily won handicaps at Haydock and Newcastle last term but rather blotted his copybook with a shocking display of jumping at Sandown final start. Still early days and returns with yard in flying form.

Form: 41/2115-

Torn And Frayed⁶⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 135| C| D

20/1

Made the breakthrough over fences as he won a Grade 2 handicap over this trip on the New Course when last seen in January 2022. Long absence to overcome and returns in a tough race but yard have plenty of previous in it (won 3 of the 10 renewals between 2008 and 2017).

Form: 3322P1/

Harper's Brook^t²⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 134| BF| D

16/1

Made a good start over fences last season, winning Bangor novice handicap in the mud second start, but there were concerns over his attitude as the campaign ended, looking to throw things away at Sandown in April (looked in command last only to tie up and hang badly left). Best watched on return.

Form: 1/215P2-

Forecasts

Stage Star (4/1), Unexpected Party (5/1), The Real Whacker (13/2), Notlongtillmay (7/1), Angels Breath (15/2), Easy As That (10/1), Il Ridoto (12/1), Fugitif (12/1), Harper's Brook (16/1), Torn And Frayed (20/1), Authorized Art (22/1), Whistleinthedark (33/1), Final Orders (33/1), Black Gerry (40/1)

There is more than a whiff of brilliant chaser about THE REAL WHACKER and while he has a huge weight to defy on his return it would be no surprise if he were up to the task, and he's taken to make it 4-4 over the Cheltenham fences. Stage Star is the other Festival winner in the line-up and seems sure to go well given his fine record first time out for Paul Nicholls. Unexpected Party seems sure to win a good handicap or 2 this season having seen off Knappers Hill on his return.