The 2026 Paddy Power Gold Cup

On Thursday there were fifteen declarations for tomorrow's Paddy Power Gold Cup. However...

This afternoon the official going at Prestbury park was changed from good, good to soft in places, to good after the second race - we can expect non-runners and, possibly, some fences omitted due to low sun. 

At the time of writing Madara and Non Iron have been officially declared non-runners.

Jagwar, having won the TrustATrader Plate at the 2025 Festival, had this race as an intended seasonal debut last year but, ironically, missed the appointment on account of soft ground. 

In the same ownership as Jagwar, Meetmebythesea - a line I chanced with very little success in the late 70s / early 80s - comes here on seasonal debut, having won the Jack Richards at the 2026 Festival off a mark of 139. 

The handicapper has raised Ben Pauling's charge 12 pounds to a mark of 151 but commentators think the market leader might be a Graded level performer running in a handicap. Note the Paddy Power is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham, whereas the Jack Richards is run over the New Course.

Blueking D'Oroux has his first outing for Team Skelton. 

Formerly trained by Paul Nicholls, Blueking D'Oroux won the Grade 2 Rising Star Novices' Chase at Wincanton a year ago and finished second in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree in April. 

His current chase mark is three pounds lower than his hurdles rating but his profile suggests he may have a slight preference for racing right-handed.

Paul Nicholls needs one more to equal Martin Pipe's record of 3,930 winners.

Quebecois remains a maiden over fences after seven starts but will not be inconvenienced by good ground and, although beaten by El Capitaine at Newton Abbot last month, is one of only a handful of runners that can boast a run in the past 60 days. As a general rule of thumb I prefer one that has had a recent outing for this race.

Henry De Bromhead saddles July Flower and Zurich.. 

The booking of Darragh O'Keeffe for mare July Flower suggests she is the stable's first choice (on her first run in a handicap) but unfortunately the jockey misses the ride after suffering abdominal injuries in a fall at Thurles yesterday; he has undergone surgery to have his spleen removed.

The last mare to win prior to Panic Attack last year was Happy Diva in 2019; on a mark of 135 Panic Attack was the lowest rated winner in the past ten years.

Sean Bowen rode Theatre Native for the De Bromhead yard in this race last year (finished ninth, beaten 34 lengths); this year he rides course and distance winner Zurich. 

This one handles good ground and finished fifth behind Madara in the Sun Racing Plate at the Festival in March (O'Moore Park sixth, Riskintheground eleventh, Guard Your Dreams brought down at the first fence). 

Jamie Snowden won the 2022 renewal with Ga Law and saddles Torneo.

Although only six years of age, he has 15 chase starts to his name and has had this race as a target for some time. 

He was on the shortlist. However I watched a replay of his win at Ffos Las last month where they went steadily enough for much of the trip but up the home straight, when they turned the taps on (to quote Jason Weaver), he made a couple of noticeable errors and I just wonder whether his jumping will hold out.

Formerly with Willie Mullins, O'Moore Park popped up at 25/1 on just his second start for new connections over the course and distance. That represents his first win over fences in 15 attempts - Spectacularsunrise was two lengths to the good at the last but came to grief. 

Matata looks to face a stiff task off top weight but he likes Cheltenham, decent ground, and goes well fresh. Fortria carried 12-00 to victory in 1960 and 1962 but since 2000 only three horses have carried more than 11-07 to victory: Cyfor Malta (11-09, 2002); Al Ferof (11-08, 2012); and Taquin Du Seuil (11-11, 2016).

Following wind surgery and sporting first-time cheekpieces, Johnnywho, in the same ownership as the favourite, won the Ultima at the Festival in March and then finished fourth in the Grand National behind I Am Maximus. With the cheekpieces left off, he is likely to have other targets later in the season.

In a first-time hood Release The Beast finished fourth behind 66/1 winner Martator in the Grand Annual at the Festival in March before unseating five pound claimer Eoin Staples with a bad mistake at the first at Punchestown. No hood here but he looks unexposed; the last Irish trained winner was Tranquil Sea in 2009.

Guard Your Dreams was disappointing on seasonal debut in a veterans' chase at Ffos Las while Dunkerque has won five times over the spring and summer months for Jennie Candlish's underrated yard - rising 20 pounds in the process - but has never contested a chase with more than five runners. 

At the beginning of June Riskintheground won the Perth Gold Cup off 140; three weeks later and four pounds higher, he was third, less than a length behind winner Imperial Alex in the Summer Cup at Uttoxeter. 

He finished a long way behind Torneo on soft ground at Ffos Las but he beat Zurich a neck over this trip on good ground at Haydock in April and back in October 2025 he beat Blueking D'Oroux in a chase at Newton Abbot.

Decent ground holds no fears for Riskintheground; Harry Atkins five pounds claim helps the cause while he comes out top dog on Topspeed's rating in the Racing Post.

 A very competitive renewal; I'm going to chance Riskintheground each-way.

Riskintheground is the each-way suggestion, 25/1 in places but a stand-out 28/1 with bet365. Most layers are paying four places.

Footnote:

Aimeric (2.55) did me a favour at Sedgefield in September; I've missed the price here but will watch with interest. Rated 104 on the Flat, he goes off 115 on his first try at three miles over hurdles. Paul Kealy highlighted his chance in the RP Weekender; the concern is whether he can stay three miles and come up the hill - that's Aimeric I'm talking about, not Mr Kealy.