14:15 Cheltenham

Saturday 14 November 2020

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:2515:55

Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 5m 14.36s

Aso²⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 158| C| D

25/1

Placed twice in the Ryanair but didn't look the force of old last season. Won handicap on the New Course on New Year's Day 2019 off this mark on last go in one of these.

Form: 62/3547-

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Simply The Betts²⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 157| C

7/1

Met with defeat just once over fences last season, winning a red-hot novice handicap and the Plate over this trip on the New Course here last 2 starts. More to come still and leading claims.

Form: 4/11211-

Mister Fisher²⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 155| C

11/2

Made a positive start over fences last season, winning novice over this trip on the New Course and Grade 2 at Doncaster. Fair fourth in the Golden Miller when last seen and respected now handicapping.

Form: 8/72114-

Al Dancer³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 154| C

5/1

Fell a bit shy of the top novice chasers last season but he made a pleasing successful return at Newton Abbot upped to 21f, keeping on well. 2-2 in handicap hurdles and right in the mix here.

Form: 12425-1

Slate House^t²⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 152| CD

12/1

C&D winner who fell 2 out when strongly fancied in this last year but bounced back with 2 victories (including Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton). Well beaten back here next 2 starts but folly to dismiss.

Form: 1F11P6-

Happy Diva^t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 151| CD

16/1

Likeable mare who took this off 8 lb lower last season and signed off with a fantastic second to Simply The Betts in the Plate. All the better for Wetherby return and could go well.

Form: 21242-5

Siruh Du Lac²⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 150| C| DWS

12/1

Unbeaten in 2018-19, completing 4-timer in the Plate at the Festival. Seen just twice last season, falling when going well in that race in March. Very interesting for new yard after wind op.

Form: 1111/PF-

Spiritofthegames^p²⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 148| D

14/1

Good record in similar handicaps on the New Course, second twice last season before chasing home Simply The Betts in the Plate final start. Clearly no margin for error off this mark though.

Form: 5/P0226-

Saint Sonnet²⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147

6/1

Listed hurdle winner in France, and having won a decent Catterick novice chase for new yard, acquitted himself well in the Golden Miller when last seen. Has stacks of potential over fences.

Form: 156317-

Domaine De L'Isle^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: S Curran| OR: 146| D

33/1

Form: 61115-4

Brelan D'As^t³³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143| D

20/1

Just failed behind Happy Diva off 5 lb lower in this last year and excused final run in the Caspian Caviar here (all but came down 3 out when yet to challenge). Interesting on return.

Form: 135/U28-

Kauto Riko^t²⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: C O'Farrell| T: T R Gretton| OR: 142WS

50/1

Ran a couple of good races last season before struggling in the Plate here final start. Given a bit of a hand by the handicapper and has had a wind op ahead of return but plenty of others more likely.

Form: 38/2520-

Pinson Du Rheu¹⁸¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: M G Nolan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 141

150/1

Fairly useful jumper at up to 23f in France, successful last November. Fell when last seen in May and faces a baptism of fire on UK debut for new stable.

Form: P17F2-F

The Russian Doyen²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Adrian Heskin| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 138

16/1

Useful 19f winner over fences seen just twice since his Festival novice handicap fourth in 2019. Shaped okay despite seeming to have a hard race on last month's return over hurdles. Wouldn't dismiss.

Form: 1514/P-3

Coole Cody²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: Evan Williams| OR: 137| C| D

10/1

Making a much better fist of chasing second time round for new yard, winning at Newton Abbot (21f) on return and running well here 3 weeks ago. Interesting on first go in a handicap over fences.

Form: 34P-122

Sky Pirate^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: J J Burke| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 134| BF| D

10/1

Awkward side usually not far away and he looked half-hearted despite finishing a good second on his return at Wetherby after a wind op (tongue tied) last month. This is tougher and risky anyway.

Form: 47/F22-2

Non-Runners

Fidux²⁸

Weight: 10-10| Age: 7

T: A King J: Thomas Bellamy

Forecasts

Al Dancer (5/1), Mister Fisher (11/2), Saint Sonnet (6/1), Simply The Betts (7/1), Coole Cody (10/1), Sky Pirate (10/1), Siruh Du Lac (12/1), Slate House (12/1), Spiritofthegames (14/1), Happy Diva (16/1), The Russian Doyen (16/1), Fidux (20/1), Brelan D'As (20/1), Aso (25/1), Domaine De L'Isle (33/1), Kauto Riko (50/1), Pinson Du Rheu (150/1)

SIMPLY THE BETTS looks the type that will progress out of handicaps this season and can remain unbeaten over the Cheltenham fences with a successful return. Saint Sonnet is another capable of much better and looks an obvious danger, while superb jumper Siruh du Lac is also of firm interest on his first start for David Pipe.