Paddy Power Gold Cup tips and runners guide to Cheltenham 2.20

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

A fantastic field of 15 tackle the first flagship contest of the Jumps season – and Paddy’s got his name on it again!

The Paddy Power Gold Cup is the feature at Cheltenham’s three-day November Meeting and multiple Grade 2-winning chaser Mister Fisher heads the weights for the Premier Handicap.

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We could have a rare Irish winner of Saturday’s £160,000 contest at 14:20 as Mouse Morris’ French Dynamite heads our Paddy Power Gold Cup odds.

Timeform’s horse-by-horse guide to the Paddy Power Gold Cup runners and betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.

Paddy Power Gold Cup runners

Mister Fisher

Trainer: Nicky Henderson Jockey: James Bowen Age: 8 Weight: 12st 0lbs

Capable of high-class form on his day, as he showed when landing Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton in January. Mixed bag thereafter, not at best when well held second behind Saint Calvados at Sandown in April. Needs to keep the errors at bay if he’s to figure.

***

Editeur Du Gite

Trainer: Gary Moore Jockey: Non-Runner Age: 8 Weight: 11st 11lbs

NON-RUNNER

Simply The Betts

Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Mr David Maxwell Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs

Major improver over fences during 2019/20 season, winning 4 times (including at the Festival). Confirmed he’s still capable of smart form last term, runner-up to Stolen Silver in Silver Trophy here final start. Creditable sixth in this 12 months ago and he’s an each-way player.

***

Coole Cody

Trainer: Evan Williams Jockey: Adam Wedge Age: 11 Weight: 11st 9lbs

Admirable front runner who landed this race in 2020 and still firmly in the picture when falling 2 out in his follow-up bid 12 months ago. Looked better than ever when landing the Plate handicap here in March and last month’s hurdle return should have teed him up perfectly for this.

***

Happygolucky

Trainer: Kim Bailey Jockey: David Bass Age: 8 Weight: 11st 9lbs

Useful hurdler and fine start over fences during 2020/21, smashing second in the Ultima here prior to posting career best to land Grade 3 handicap (25f) at Aintree final start. Missed last term though and this trip may prove on the short side on return to action.

***

Stolen Silver

Trainer: Sam Thomas Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies Age: 7 Weight: 11st 8lbs

Winning start for this yard at Market Rasen (17.2f) last October and even better efforts at this venue thereafter, fourth in Plate handicap at the Festival prior to running out an impressive winner of the Silver Trophy in April. Career-high mark to defy on return but he’s of definite interest.

*****

French Dynamite

Trainer: M. F. Morris Jockey: D. J. O’Keeffe Age: 7 Weight: 11st 6lbs

Smart hurdler who quickly reached a similar level over fences, doubling career tally in a Thurles Gr. 3 in March prior to an excellent third behind El Barra in handicap at Punchestown (21f) in April. Winning return over hurdles 23 days ago ought to have set him up nicely for this.

****

Midnight River

Trainer: Dan Skelton Jockey: Harry Skelton Age: 7 Weight: 11st 3lbs

Useful novice hurdler who gained second victory from 5 starts in this sphere on return at Stratford (19.5f) 16 days ago, impressive for all the race did fall apart a little. This understandably tougher but he jumped soundly then and he remains sufficiently unexposed to make an impact up in grade.

***

Umbrigado

Trainer: David Pipe Jockey: Tom Scudamore Age: 8 Weight: 11st 2lbs

Made big strides forward over fences in 2020/21, career-best effort when taking Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury. Had excuses on 2 of his 3 starts last term and he arrives here in good nick, successful over hurdles at Newton Abbot (26.5f) last month. One to consider with blinkers enlisted.

****

Nassalam

Trainer: Gary Moore Jockey: Jamie Moore Age: 5 Weight: 11st 2lbs

5-y-o who enjoyed a good first season over fences, taking Newbury Gr. 2 last November and ending campaign with success at Fontwell (19.5f) in February. Well backed, couldn’t land a blow on return at Ascot 2 weeks ago though, and he’ll need to step up a good deal on that to figure.

***

Ga Law

Trainer: Jamie Snowden Jockey: Jonathan Burke Age: 6 Weight: 11st 0lbs

Quickly developed into a useful novice chaser during 2020/21, winning 3 times including at Gr. 2 level. Proved he retains all his ability (on back of 20 months off) with eye-catching third in last month’s Old Roan at Aintree (finished with running left) and he’s clearly on a competitive mark.

****

Il Ridoto

Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Harry Cobden Age: 5 Weight: 10st 12lbs

5-y-o who impressed when making second start for this yard a winning one at Newbury 12 months ago. Better than distance beaten suggests in Grand Annual in March and finished good third in Ayr Grade 1 over this sort of trip final start. Likely to be a stronger model this term. Has had breathing op.

****

Slate House

Trainer: Joe Tizzard Jockey: Brendan Powell Age: 10 Weight: 10st 12lbs

Revitalised by dropping in trip back in the spring, landing back-to-back 2m2f handicaps at Kempton. Possibly amiss at Plumpton in May and likely in need of the run returning from 5 months at first-named venue 4 weeks ago. Still, others rate stronger.

***

Storm Control

Trainer: Kerry Lee Jockey: Richard Patrick Age: 9 Weight: 10st 6lbs

Dual course winner (over further) who added to his tally at Newbury (23.4f) in January prior to finishing second in Sky Bet Chase next time. However, record patchy since and he needs to step up a good deal on his Stratford return in October following a wind op. Blinkers replace cheekpieces.

Galahad Quest

Trainer: Mrs Jane Williams Jockey: David Noonan Age: 6 Weight: 10st 3lbs

Hurdles/chase winner who ran well when staying on gradually for fifth in this race 12 months ago. Consistent in defeat subsequently, easy to back when second in 4-runner Chepstow handicap on return last month. Another with sound claims of hitting the frame from reduced mark.

***

Deyrann De Carjac

Trainer: Alan King Jockey: Harry Kimber Age: 9 Weight: 9st 12lbs

Smart novice chaser in 2019/20. Seemingly not the force of old but mark reflects that and he ran well on back of 6 months off when collared late on at Wetherby (19.4f) 2 weeks ago. Still, losing run is off-putting and likely he’ll find a few too good.