The 2025 December Gold Cup

Eleven declared for tomorrow's December Gold Cup, to be run this year as The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup in support of the fund set up by BBC racing commentator John Hunt and his daughter Amy in memory of Carol, John's wife, and daughters Hannah and Louise. 

The going in Gloucestershire is currently described as good to soft; curmudgeonly, perhaps, given recent rains, but the forecast sunshine is likely to prove problematic and may well lead to fences being omitted.

Favourite Jagwar won the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase over course and distance at the Festival in March. He missed his intended return in the Paddy Power Gold Cup four weeks ago on account of heavy ground and shows up here surrounded by whispers he could be a Graded level performer.

His rivals may possess a race-fitness edge but the gelding tends to travel well through a race and clearly has an engine; the jumping isn't always foot perfect though while the stable is just starting to emerge from a quiet spell - Passing Pleasure won at Musselburgh on Monday and Gamesters Guy beat sole rival Moon Rocket (1/3f) in the opener at Doncaster earlier today.

Although run over a slightly shorter trip on the Old Course, last month's Paddy Power Gold Cup is a pertinent piece of form. 

Vincenzo and Hoe Joly Smoke finished second and third respectively behind Panic Attack, with Il Ridoto eighth - beaten 16 lengths - and Es Perfecto pulled up before the last, jockey Tom Bellamy reporting the gelding stopped quickly.

On revised terms Vincenzo and Hoe Joly Smoke look closely matched. 

The latter, ridden by Kielan Woods last time as stable jockey Harry Skelton was aboard the winner, made a mistake two out which may just have cost him second place. Having won over three miles, Hoe Joly Smoke is likely to benefit from the greater emphasis the New Course places on stamina but perhaps wouldn't be best suited by fences being omitted.

Five-year-old Kim Roque, second in the Listed Grand Steeple-Chase de Dieppe in the summer, has his second start for Joseph O'Brien since moving from Daniela Mele's yard in France.

On his first start for current connections he finished three lengths behind Kdeux Saint Fray over two and a half miles on the Old Course four weeks ago; he runs off a mark three pounds out of the handicap. 

Since 2000 only two runners younger than six have come home in front - Unioniste (2012) and Frodon (2016), both four-year-olds and both trained by Paul Nicholls.

I have to say I was impressed with Colonel Harry's victory in the Grand Sefton five weeks ago - was there even a hint he had more up his sleeve? 

Sixth behind Grey Dawning in the 2024 Turners at the Festival, he would probably prefer a bit more cut underfoot, but he has only been raised four pounds for that win over the National fences..

Stablemate and top weight Ga Law won the 2022 Paddy Power Gold Cup and finished second behind Il Ridoto in the 2024 renewal of the same race. 

Isabelle Ryder can claim seven but, much like my good self, he isn't getting any younger and these days is prone to make the odd mistake here and there.

Having watched a replay of last month's Paddy Power, I was struck by how open the race was as they turned for home. Il Ridoto, prominent throughout, had his chance, as indeed did Es Perfecto. 

Il Ridoto goes off a mark of 141, the same mark off which he won last year's Paddy Power (although Freddie Gingell claimed three pounds).

On his Betfair blog this evening handler Paul Nicholls said:

"The more it dries out, the better for Il Ridoto, he's a good ground horse who has bits and pieces of form on the soft but doesn't really like it."  

Imperial Saint showed a liking for the New Course when third behind Moon d'Orange in January.

Sent off 2/1 favourite at Aintree on seasonal debut seven weeks ago he disappointed, eventually finishing fifth. Subsequently the Racing Post reported Richard Johnson, manager of several syndicates, saying:

"[Imperial Saint] tweaked his backside before Aintree and and I think that's what got him upset before the race that day. He still ran okay but he definitely wasn't on his A-game. That's sorted now and I'd like to think he goes there with a decent chance." 

Just by way of an aside I suffered a similar misfortune on a car park in Braintree some years ago and had to take three months off work.

The winners have been a while coming for Venetia Williams this season but the yard appears to have turned a corner - Djelo won the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on Sunday and Authodidcate won at Uttoxeter on Tuesday.

After a poor run in the Haldon Gold Cup - fifth of six, beaten 65 lengths - Martator hinted at a return to form when second behind Calico at Ascot three weeks ago. The fact the majority of his chase form is on right-handed tracks is a concern, although he did finish midfield behind Jazzy Matty in the Grand Annual at the Festival. 

Glengouly faces a stiff task from seven pounds out of the handicap.

The 2025 Paddy Power Gold Cup wasn't the strongest renewal and similar comments apply to this race; 7/2 Jagwar could look a big price after the weigh-in.

I'm going to take a chance on Martator, the one to beat on Racing Post ratings. He has won over this trip and shouldn't be inconvenienced by drying conditions.

Martator is the each-way suggestion, 14/1 generally at the time of writing, with bet365, Paddy Power and Sky all paying four places.

The 2024 December Gold Cup at Cheltenham

Eleven have been declared for tomorrow's December Gold Cup (1.50 Cheltenham) with the going on the New Course described as good to soft, good in places.

At the time of writing there has been strong support for five-year-old Madara who now heads the market. 

On his first run for Dan Skelton four weeks ago he made eye-catching late progress to finish fourth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup (run on the Old Course) behind Il Ridoto and Ga Law (Fugitif fifth, In Excelsis Deo unseated rider). 

The gelding, previously trained in France, already has 12 chase starts - and four victories - to his name; both Unioniste (2012) and Frodon (2016) have won this race as four-year-olds in recent times.

Freddie Gingell, claiming three pounds, came home in front on Il Ridoto in the Paddy Power Gold Cup; the handicapper reacted by raising Paul Nicholls' charge to a mark of 149. 

Unfortunately Freddie picked up an injury when unseating from Siam Park at Taunton yesterday and has been stood down. The trainer's daughter Miss Olive Nicholls now takes the ride and claims seven; the horse is a drifter in the market this evening. 

Ga Law didn't always look that quick over his fences in the Paddy Power and also made one or two niggling errors. That said, he was closing on the winner up the the hill so the switch to the New Course should help his cause and he has the assistance of Gavin Sheehan in the saddle. 

Earlier in the week I watched a recording of last year's race. 

Il Ridoto and Frero Banbou took no prisoners up front that day and raced clear of their rivals from the eighth; the former, with Bryony Frost up, went on from two out and jumped the last five lengths to the good but the pair were caught in the final strides by Fugitif and Gavin Sheehan (Frero Banbou third, Grandeur D'Ame fourth).

Fugitif tries to win this year's renewal off a mark one pound lower than last year - the handicapper has clearly given him every chance. At nine years of age, Richard Hobson's charge is older than ideal - since 1994 there has only been one winner aged over eight: Coole Cody in 2021.

Top weight Stage Star won the 2023 Grade One Turners Novices' Chase and subsequently the 2023 running of the Paddy Power off 155 (Il Ridoto third, Fugitif fourth). He looks to face a stiff task off 162; in the last 20 years Frodon in 2018 is the only winner to carry more than 11-08.

In Excelsis Deo is a course and distance winner who should appreciate drying ground; Harry Fry's charge has the ability to be competitive but he didn't jump well in the Galway Plate in July and last time unseated Brian Carver with a bad mistake four from home in the Paddy Power.    

Gemirande finished some 25 lengths behind In Excelsis Deo over course and distance in April on his penultimate start but looked impressive at Ascot last time on seasonal debut, beating Nocte Volatus seven lengths. He goes off a career high mark of 136 tomorrow.

Le Patron won the Grade One Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown last year and showed his best form since when beating Scarface seven lengths at Newbury 15 days ago. On his one start at Cheltenham to date he was pulled up in the Turners at the Festival; his chance is respected although drying ground may not be ideal.

With just three chase starts under his belt Guard Your Dreams is the least experienced of these over the larger obstacles while I thought Sure Touch a tad disappointing in fifth in the Grand Sefton where he raced in rear for most of the way before staying on up the run-in. He underwent wind surgery six days after that effort.

Grandeur D'Ame's two length defeat of Ga Law (Il Ridoto sixth) at Chepstow nine weeks ago reads well. Writing in the RP Weekender handler Alan King says:

"The December Gold Cup has been the plan ... for some time.

"He loves to be fresh so after he won at Chepstow on his reappearance we decided to put him away and train him for this.

"Grandeur D'Ame finished fourth in this race last year and I think he's a better horse now. He's certainly working like one and he's in a good place at present."

Form lines aplenty to choose from; I like the look of the Chepstow race back in October.

At the time of writing Grandeur D'Ame is generally priced up at 8/1. 

Rather than the usual each-way play, I'm going to back Grandeur D'Ame to win with Sky who offer money back as cash (up to a maximum £10.00) if your selection finishes second, third or fourth. 

The 2022 December Gold Cup at Cheltenham

The course covers put in place earlier in the week ensured today's card at Cheltenham went ahead following a second inspection at 10.30am.

The race is now on to put the covers back down over an area of some 40 acres as temperatures start to fall away.

ITV Racing give tomorrow's meeting a 50-50 chance of survival.

In the event racing goes ahead I'll take an each-way interest in the AIS December Gold Cup (1.50) run over two miles four and a half furlongs on the New Course.

Fifteen have been declared and the going is described as good. A number of the more fancied horses have yet to win over the trip - Il Ridoto, Frero Banbou, War Lord, Fugitif, Cheddleton and Coconut Splash.   

The Paddy Power Gold Cup, run four weeks ago over the Old Course, is always considered a pertinent piece of form. 

On the back of his fourth in this year's renewal - five lengths behind winner Ga Law - Il Ridoto heads the market.

Only five years of age, Paul Nicholls' charge ran a fine race that day and was in the mix for second spot when a blunder at the final flight put paid to that chance; the gelding lost third to Midnight River on the run to the line. 

The trainer has a good record in this and in the past decade has collected the spoils with two four-year-olds: Unioniste (2012) and Frodon (2016).

In behind Il Ridoto last month were Deyrann De Carjac (fifth); Simply The Betts (seventh); Storm Control (eighth); and Stolen Silver (unseated rider).

On his penultimate run back in April Stolen Silver beat Simply The Betts 11 lengths over course and distance. 

However on seasonal reappearance Stolen Silver's jumping started to show the strain some way out; pilot Sam Twiston-Davies was unseated three from home.

Fantastic Lady, trained by Nicky Henderson, has decent form in the book and her chance is repsected. She beat Zambella over three miles in a listed mares' handicap chase at Market Rasen; her profile suggests she may just prefer a little more cut underfoot.

Frero Banbou is a talented individual but tries the trip for the first time and, to my mind, often jumps low at his fences.

War Lord's fourth behind Edwardstone in the Arkle reads very well. 

I quite fancied his chance in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter but the grey was disappointing behind Greaneteen and is another who may prefer more dig in the ground. His price has drifted in the market this evening.

Cheddleton finished behind War Lord at Carlisle last year while Fugitif hung left on occasions on his first outing on good ground behind Amarillo Sky over the Old Course last month.

Simply The Betts was sixth in the 2021 Paddy Power Gold Cup, beaten under six lengths, and just happened to bump into Vienna Court when second over course and distance on New Year's Day. Mr. David Maxwell's three pounds claim will help the cause here.

Coconut Splash is an interesting contender who has yet win over fences or to race on ground any better than good to soft; he has come in for market support this evening.

In a Stable Tour article [RP  Weekender 12-16.01.22] trainer Evan Williams said:

"I have faith in the horse and feel he could be one who could be dangerous in some decent handicaps off a low weight."

Sole Irish raider Sole Pretender finished behind Bambridge and Tommy's Oscar over two miles here last time. 

Irish runners don't have a strong record in the race but Chatham Street Lad won the 2020 renewal for Michael Winters by 15 lengths.

This looks a step up in class for Fern Hill whose chase experience to date is in novice events with eight runners or less. 

Storm Control jumped well for a long way at the head of affairs before tiring in the Paddy Power Gold Cup; however connections' first preference is the bet365 Handicap Chase (2.05 Doncaster) and the same comment applies to Kauto Riko. 

Jacamar sports a first-time visor but Milton Harris' charge hasn't been in good form so far this term. 

I tipped Deyrann De Carjac each-way for the Paddy Power Gold Cup; Alan King's charge made ground in the closing stages to finish fifth, beaten just under six lengths and less than one length behind tomorrow's market leader Il Ridoto. 

To my mind Deyrann remains ahead of his current mark of 128 - he's rated 132 over hurdles and twelve months ago the trainer thought the gelding not badly treated off 137; good ground will suit. In the current Weekender the trainer states:

"We put some cheekpieces on him at home and I can report he was very sharp schooling in them on Monday morning."

Those aids were tried on two previous occasions last season - with little discernible improvement - but the horse appears in better form this term. 

I'd like to see him race a little more prominently tomorrow and I'd like to think the additional half furlong on the New Course will help his cause.

I'm going to remain loyal to Deyrann.

Deyrann De Carjac is the each-way suggestion, 12/1 with Sky Bet who pay one fifth the odds five places provided 12 or more runners make the start - and, of course, the meeting survives the cold weather...