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The 2025 Paddy Power Gold Cup (Handicap Chase)

Ian_Davies

Ian_Davies

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May 7, 2023
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Hampshire
The top of the betting wouldn't exactly knock your eye out. Gidleigh Park might just be the most 'Grade 1' horse in the race.
 
Just saying, but myself and Pawras are down there for that weekend, jinny has agreed to brave coming to say hello. I seem to recall a few more of TH's finest are attending the meeting if anyone fancies saying hello Pawras has said he'll buy them a beer.
 
I shall indeed be there on the Saturday and it's always nice to meet fellow forumites. Doing a double header that weekend with Badbury Rings on the Sunday....😮‍💨
 
Danny said:
Just saying, but myself and Pawras are down there for that weekend, jinny has agreed to brave coming to say hello. I seem to recall a few more of TH's finest are attending the meeting if anyone fancies saying hello Pawras has said he'll buy them a beer.
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I have great news that should boost the size of the gathering - I will be a minimum of 74 miles away the entire meeting.

Have a great weekend, Danny.
 
Ian_Davies said:
I have great news that should boost the size of the gathering - I will be a minimum of 74 miles away the entire meeting.

Have a great weekend, Danny.
Click to expand...

Literally all those meetings they've held about how to boost Cheltenham crowd sizes and you just nailed it in one fell swoop. Not all Hero's wear capes. Expect a record crowd for PP day following this breaking news.
 
Just to say at this point we have a stats man, a paddock judge and a food van and beer tent connoisseur so if anyone feels they can fill any of the gaps needed for a good days racing you're more than welcome.
 
Danny said:
Just saying, but myself and Pawras are down there for that weekend, jinny has agreed to brave coming to say hello. I seem to recall a few more of TH's finest are attending the meeting if anyone fancies saying hello Pawras has said he'll buy them a beer.
Click to expand...
yeah right! so you're a comedian as well as form analyst , foundry worker and cage dancer
 
Similar to Slim im not too taken with anything at the front of the betting. Can also see his point with Gidleigh Park.

Ben Pauling holds a very strong hand it'll be interesting to see how he plays it. Jukebox Man is pencilled in for here or Ascot the following week. His 2 pieces of form from last year were franked pretty well Massacio twice got fairly close to Jagwar giving weight and JM basically did as he liked with him at Newbury first time up and again in the Feltham. Hyland who he beat in the Feltham went on to run a decent 2nd off top weight in strangely run Ladbrokes trophy. I think he'd take all the beating from his current mark if lining up.

Bad is the other one he has in there but can he do it away from Kempton ? That would be only question but he's obviously progressive, looked like he did it very easily on his seasonal debut and the 2nd franked the form in decent handicap since. The course seems the only possible negative for him but at 16/1 it's only a possible negative.

Be interesting to see which one he goes with can't imagine he runs both.
 
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I may have to wait for tomorrow's five-day confirmations - or even Thursday's 48-hour declarations - as there's a few in here that seem overpriced and friendless to me, but that may mean they aren't going to run.

Take Bad, who Danny has mentioned.

Progressive 6yo, recent winner, yard operating at a 31% strike rate, how in the name of Walsworth's shirt tucked into his underpants can that be 16/1?

I know it's unproven at Cheltenham, but it's only ever run there the once.

Hitman was voted Ponces's Ponce Of The Year for the third year running at the Summer Equine Ponce Awards, but Freddie Gingell performed a modern-day miracle on him at Aintree and nothing may be going better three out IF he's running, but is he? - connections have other options.

Master Chewy seemed to stay well enough that day at Aintree, but he's drifting like he's currently on holiday in Lanzarote.

Am I even allowed to mention Etalon?

He's from the yard so many here seem to love to hate (yet they keep having bets in races where they have runners).

I think Etalon is still unexposed over this trip, having done most of his racing at around 2m.

And Coming Up Easy is the one that interests me most among his yard's entry.

I can't have a bet at the moment - I am off to have a Sunday morning butchers at the Greatwood now.
 
Just back it. There is no such thing as “friendless” in an ante-post market like this. The horse simply isn’t sexy enough for the morons who frequent X and dictate the price moves.

Bad
Six-year-old gelding by Morandi (sire) out of Love Over Gold (dam)
Owner: DP Howden
Form figures: F11P5-1
Racing Post Rating 148 (chase) 127 (hurdles)
Official rating 145 (chase) 123 (hurdles)

I was delighted with his reappearance at Kempton. We took the headgear off and we weren’t overly fussed with how he ran – we wanted him fit and ready for the Paddy Power. But he was great and he’s showing a more willing side to himself these days.
 
I wouldn't say too much about the track for Bad. If he can run ok in a Fred Winter, he'll be grand.

Running comments:
Took keen hold, raced wide early, prominent, led before 4th, not fluent 4 out, ridden and headed before last, soon weakened, lost shoe (vet said gelding lost his right hind shoe) (op 11/2 tchd 9/2)
 
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Yeah, I looked at that - he wasn't actually beaten that far (12 lengths IIRC?) and he's lost a shoe.

Can't possibly be 16/1 in my book if he turns up.
 
Just a quick glance but if Skelton's keep Protektorat in on top weight, then that leaves Riskintheground on a very attractive 10st5 - he's a course winner plus he comes here off the back of a nice victory over Blue King d'Oroux last time, setting him up nicely. Currently 16s.
 
I see Ginnys Destiny is now with Henderson. On a decent mark if the change of stable sweetens him up. That 2nd to Grey Dawning at last years festival reads well.
 
I've gone in again on Grandeur d'ame 40/1.
also entered in the coral/hennessey but that must be too far for him.
Ran well in the ultima on his only try at 3m + but weakened 2 out.
On a line through Moon d 'orange he has the beating of Riskintheground.
 

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