December Gold Cup tips and runner-by-runner guide to Cheltenham 1.50 on Saturday

Can Stolen Silver nick another victory at the home of Jumps racing?

*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

Silver Trophy winner Stolen Silver tops the weights for the December Gold Cup as he bids to score again over course and distance at Cheltenham.

A field of 15 are set to go to post at 13:50 on Saturday and the other market principals include last season’s Manifesto Novices’ Chase second War Lord and Paddy Power Gold Cup fourth Il Ridoto, who bids to hand trainer Paul Nicholls a record-extending sixth success in the race.

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The Premier Handicap – run over 2m4½f on the New Course – is one of the most lucrative renewals on the calendar for horses of this calibre, with a £130,000 prize pot up for grabs and £74,035 on offer to connections of the first past the post.

December Gold Cup odds can be found on the Paddy Power website, Paddy Power app or via our snazzy betting widgets, otherwise a horse-by-horse guide to the runners and betting tips are below.

December Gold Cup runners

Stolen Silver

Trainer: Sam Thomas Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies Age: 7 Weight: 12st 0lbs

Did well over C&D last spring, fourth in Plate handicap at the Festival prior to running out an impressive winner of the Silver Trophy in April. Yet to be asked for effort when unseating 3 out in Paddy Power Gold Cup here on reappearance. Worth another chance.

*****

Simply The Betts

Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Mr David Maxwell Age: 9 Weight: 11st 13lbs

Won the Plate handicap at the Festival in 2020 and more good efforts here last term, including 11 lengths second to Stolen Silver in Silver Trophy over C&D final start. Respectable seventh of 14 in Paddy Power Gold Cup on reappearance.

***

War Lord

Trainer: Joe Tizzard Jockey: Brendan Powell Age: 7 Weight: 11st 12lbs

Took very well to fences last term, winning 3 times and also fourth to Edwardstone in the Arkle at the Festival here. Below-form third of 5 in Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on reappearance but he could be sharper for the run.

***

Cheddleton

Trainer: Jennie Candlish Jockey: Sean Quinlan Age: 7 Weight: 11st 10lbs

Smart chaser. Mostly creditable efforts last season and a sound return to action over hurdles at Haydock last month. That sets him up nicely for this return to fences. Could go well.

****

Sole Pretender

Trainer: Norman Lee Jockey: Age: 8 Weight: 11st 9lbs

Smart Irish hurdler/chaser who scored twice in this sphere in early summer and has been third in a couple of 2m course novices this autumn (Grade 2 latterly). Won around this trip earlier in his career.

***

Frero Banbou

Trainer: Venetia Williams Jockey: Charlie Deutsch Age: 7 Weight: 11st 5lbs

Took his form up a notch last season, scoring at Lingfield (2m) and third in the Grand Annual at the Festival here. Also a good second on Ascot reappearance but only a respectable fourth back there since. Steps up in trip now.

***

Fern Hill

Trainer: Ben Case Jockey: Jack Quinlan Age: 7 Weight: 11st 4lbs

Won twice over hurdles and runner-up 4 times over fences prior to deservedly getting his head in front in a handicap at Uttoxeter (22.5f, soft) last month. 7 lb rise means he’ll need a big career best to follow up.

***

Fantastic Lady

Trainer: Nicky Henderson Jockey: Nico de Boinville Age: 7 Weight: 11st 4lbs

Useful chaser who arrives on the back of a reappearance win in 3m Market Rasen listed mares’ chase last month. This demands more of her again but certainly not discounted.

***

Il Ridoto

Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Harry Cobden Age: 5 Weight: 11st 3lbs

Useful novice chaser last term and shaped well when 5 lengths fourth of 14 in Paddy Power Gold Cup here on his reappearance 4 weeks ago. Much respected for a top stable seeking a fourth win in this since 2012.

****

Kauto Riko

Trainer: Tom Gretton Jockey: David Noonan Age: 11 Weight: 10st 12lbs

Has drawn a blank since a 3m Kelso listed success in February 2020. Off 5 months, should be sharper for a run in a course veterans’ chase 4 weeks ago but bit of a surprise were he to snap his losing run in a race like this. First preference 2.05 Doncaster.

**

Fugitif

Trainer: Richard Hobson Jockey: Kielan Woods Age: 7 Weight: 10st 11lbs

Hurdles winner who gained second chase success at Newcastle (2m) in January. Creditable reappearance second of 8 over 2m here last month. That form has been boosted by the winner going in again but he’s been below par on both previous attempts over this trip.

***

Jacamar

Trainer: Milton Harris Jockey: Jonathan Burke Age: 7 Weight: 10st 10lbs

Dual winner around this trip last term but he’s been operating below his best so far this season, again not seeing his race out when sixth of 10 at Newbury latest. First-time visor needs to help with his finishing effort.

**

Coconut Splash

Trainer: Evan Williams Jockey: Adam Wedge Age: 7 Weight: 10st 10lbs

Maiden hurdle winner who has shown useful form in defeat over fences, running close to his best when 4 lengths third of 7 in 19f Wetherby handicap on his reappearance 6 weeks ago. Yard won this race last year.

***

Storm Control

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

Dual course winner (over further) who added to tally at Newbury (3m) last winter. Shaped better than result under an aggressive ride when 16 lengths eighth of 14 in Paddy Power Gold Cup here last month, fading only from the last. First-time visor on, blinkers off. First preference 2.05 Doncaster.

****

Deyrann De Carjac

Trainer: Alan King Jockey: Tom Cannon Age: 9 Weight: 10st 6lbs

Smart novice chaser in 2019/20. Seemingly not the force of old but handicap mark reflects that and he’s run 2 sound races this season, narrowly denied at Wetherby before fifth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

***

December Gold Cup tips

Timeform: STOLEN SILVER still looked to have running in him when unseating at the third last in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month and is given another chance as he still looks on a decent mark based on his Silver Trophy win here in the spring. Il Ridoto shaped well in fourth in the Paddy Power and Paul Nicholls has a good record in this race so he’s an obvious danger. Cheddleton is an each-way player at likely bigger odds.

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