Two Grade One novice chase winners at the Festival meeting in March top both the weights and the betting for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday, and there is every chance too that The Real Whacker and Stage Star will take each other on at the head of the field from an early stage.
Both chasers made most of the running on the way to victory in the Brown Advisory and Turners Novice Chases respectively, and they are clearly the class acts in Saturday’s field. Whether they will be able to dominate, and concede weight to, a host of seasoned specialists over track and trip is another question, however, and there are plenty of strong each-way alternatives at double-figure prices.
Notlongtillmay, the runner-up behind Stage Star back in March, is one possibility after a promising return to action at the October meeting, along with course-and-distance regulars Fugitif and Il Ridoto (2.20), second and sixth respectively in the Plate Handicap Chase at the Festival.
Il Ridoto beat Fugitif by a length at around this trip on the New course in January, is 4lb better off with that rival at Saturday’s weights and is flexible tactically if the leaders overcook the pace, while Freddie Gingell’s 5lb claim is also a bonus.
Cheltenham 1.45 Mister Coffey’s 25-length eighth in the Grand National last time out is an eye-catching piece of form for a novice, but he has yet to win any of his nine chase starts and Good Risk At All, an impressive winner of his chasing debut at Carlisle last month, was as good, if not better, over hurdles.
Lingfield Park 2.36 A drop in grade to Listed company for the first time this season should be enough to see Regal Reality return to the winner’s enclosure after a series of strong efforts in better company, including a close second in the Group Two Joel Stakes at Newmarket last time out.
Cheltenham 2.55 Placenet cannot have been the easiest horse to assess on his form in the French provinces and he may well have been let in lightly on a mark of 124 for his handicap debut.
Lingfield 11.15 Wake Up Harry 11.45 Raqraaq 12.16 Captain Howse 12.51 Games People Play 1.26 Hosanna Power 2.01 Forca Timao 2.36 Regal Reality 3.11 Willem Twee (nb) 3.46 Wadi Bani
Wetherby 12.09 Heltenham 12.44 Nells Son 1.19 Haafapiece 1.54 Ubetya 2.29 Favour And Fortune 3.04 Punta Del Este 3.39 Ladronne
Cheltenham 12.35 Burdett Road 1.10 Mole Court 1.45 Good Risk At All 2.20 Il Ridoto (nap) 2.55 Placenet 3.30 Respendent Grey 4.05 Sharp Object
Uttoxeter 1.02 He Knows Better 1.37 Letthedustsettle 2.12 Lifetime Legend 2.47 Grain D’Oudairies 3.22 James Jet 3.57 Matthias
Wolverhampton 4.30 Angel Of Peace 5.00 Voltaic 5.30 Lord Melbourne 6.00 Bulldog Drummond 6.30 Berrygate 7.00 Diamondsinthesand 7.30 Catesby 8.00 Jenever 8.30 Percy Willis
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Quick Guide
Greg Wood’s Saturday tips
Show
Lingfield 11.15 Wake Up Harry 11.45 Raqraaq 12.16 Captain Howse 12.51 Games People Play 1.26 Hosanna Power 2.01 Forca Timao 2.36 Regal Reality 3.11 Willem Twee (nb) 3.46 Wadi Bani
Wetherby 12.09 Heltenham 12.44 Nells Son 1.19 Haafapiece 1.54 Ubetya 2.29 Favour And Fortune 3.04 Punta Del Este 3.39 Ladronne
Cheltenham 12.35 Burdett Road 1.10 Mole Court 1.45 Good Risk At All 2.20 Il Ridoto (nap) 2.55 Placenet 3.30 Respendent Grey 4.05 Sharp Object
Uttoxeter 1.02 He Knows Better 1.37 Letthedustsettle 2.12 Lifetime Legend 2.47 Grain D’Oudairies 3.22 James Jet 3.57 Matthias
Wolverhampton 4.30 Angel Of Peace 5.00 Voltaic 5.30 Lord Melbourne 6.00 Bulldog Drummond 6.30 Berrygate 7.00 Diamondsinthesand 7.30 Catesby 8.00 Jenever 8.30 Percy Willis
Lingfield Park 3.11 Mischief Magic won a weak race last time out and looks too short against a better field here, with Willem Twee, at around 7-1, the pick of the prices to continue his progress on artificial surfaces and take the step up from a strong handicap success last time in his stride.
Cheltenham 3.30 Resplendent Grey has progressed with every run over hurdles and briefly threatened to give the highly-promising Captain Teague a race at Chepstow last time. That run could give him an edge in terms of fitness on the early favourite, Springwell Bay.