Horse Racing Tips: Our pundits’ Epic Cheltenham cheat sheet on Paddy Power Gold Cup Day

L’Eau du Sud was runner up in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and County Hurdle at Cheltenham last season. That form and his debut win over fences last time will do for me.

L’Eau du Sud stands out on form and was impressive on debut when winning at Stratford. The drier ground mightn’t be ideal, but I expect him to win.

An Arkle trial in name only, L’EAU DU SUD is the sort of good-class handicap hurdler his stable almost routinely turn into even better chasers and he’s strongly fancied to take the step up in class in his stride and make it 2-2 in this sphere.

L’Eau du Sud and Lookaway set the standard. Both won on their chase debuts and also carry the best hurdle form into this contest. L’Eau du Sud just shades it for me.

L’Eau du Sud was a non-runner recently on good ground and everything suggests he wants it muddy, but, that all said, provided he turns up he should take some beating for Harry and Dan Skelton.

I’m hoping that the class of last season’s Ryanair Chase winner Protektorat will see him through. He’s top weight but if he gets into a nice rhythm, he should be able to hit the places at least.

The Paddy Power Gold Cup looks a cracking renewal and Ginny’s Destiny is short enough in the market, so I’ll plump with Imagine. A very good hurdler for Gordon Elliott, he’s still only a six-year-old and his back form in Ireland is really good. There’s a lot to like. He’s my best bet of the day off a mark of 154.

GINNY’S DESTINY has a similar profile to Stage Star who won this for the Nicholls/Cobden combination last year and can enhance his excellent Cheltenham record. 2022 winner Ga Law is feared most on the back of his fine reappearance second at Chepstow.

I’ve landed on Imagine to win and Il Ridoto (each-way). Imagine was an expensive purchase from Ireland and could be very well handicapped over fences. Il Ridoto was third in this race last season but has had a prep run this time. His consistency and course form should see him bang there.

Good ground is not an issue for Protektorat and while it’s not going to be easy carrying 12st, he’s very decent on his day. I’ll have a few quid on each-way.

The Skelton team are in fine form and Doyen Quest is ultra-consistent. Stepping up in trip could bring out more improvement in him. Irish raider Zeeband could be a value play each-way.

Doyen Quest is just too consistent to ignore. He was beaten at Chepstow on seasonal debut but the third and sixth have won subsequently. He looks the one to beat.

DOYEN QUEST who resumed with an excellent second in a big-field Chepstow handicap (form been franked) and still looks ahead of his mark with this longer trip also a likely plus. Noble Birth could emerge as the main danger .

Gavin Cromwell’s Noble Birth catches my eye in this wide-open 3m handicap hurdle. He’s been running over fences but there may be more to come now he reverts to hurdles again and was fourth in this race last year.

I expect Gowel Road to have a solid each-way chance. He was sixth in the Final of this event at Cheltenham in March, but the better ground now may enhance his chance.

Wyenot was impressive on handicap debut last month and with the dry ground in her favour could still be well handicapped.

Hamsiyann hasn’t won despite being backed to do so many times. He has good form on the Flat and could be well handicapped over hurdles based on that rating. There’s been plenty of market support for him again.

HAMSIYANN was progressive in a handful of starts over hurdles last term. Unexposed at this trip and appealing as being on a handy mark, he’s very much of interest

Hamsiyann has being running over the wrong trip in my opinion and the step up to 2m 5f should bring out the improvement needed for him to win. He’s my nap today.

This is the furthest WYENOT (each-way) has gone but  made all over a little shorter at this track last time. She’s up 6lb for that success but  might be hard to pass. if she bounces out. Solid each-way claims.