Ground Conditions Put Paid to Jagwar ´ S Cheltenham Bid
Ante-post Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase favourite Jagwar has actually been ruled out of Saturday's Cheltenham masterpiece, being stated a non-runner due to ground conditions.
The prominent early-season contest had actually been a long-held prepare for the training group Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero given that landing the Plate with ease at the Cheltenham Festival, and although confident ahead of the race the group will have to hold back running their JP McManus-owned gelding.
He was due to bring top-weight around Cheltenham and with the ground rapidly deteriorating on Friday due to relentless rain, connections have actually decided to keep their powder dry with the six-year-old.
It was a bleak scene at Cheltenham at the close of racing on Friday (David Davies for The Jockey Club)
"It is because of the way the ground has actually gone, it was going to be very difficult for him so we've decided with Oliver and Josh that we'll await another day," said Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus.
"It's a pity to miss out on the race, however it the finest thing for the horse. It's no big deal and he was prepared to run, it's simply the ground has actually chosen him.
"We'll be looking at all the alternative races for him now as he is effectively and was ready to go."
Alan King, a fitness instructor who ten years ago struck with Annacotty, runs Es Perfecto in the exact same colours - a gelding who ended up just 9 lengths behind Caldwell Potter when 5th at the Cheltenham Festival.
"This has been his target for a long time and his preparation has actually worked out. I enjoy enough with him," stated King.
Trainer Alan King is seeking another Paddy Power Gold Cup win (David Davies/PA)
"He ran extremely well at the Festival - he only got run out of the places in the last 50 yards.
"He's ready to draw back and we'll see how we go."
Paul Nicholls might be without the previously mentioned Caldwell Potter, but can get in touch with protecting champ Il Ridoto searching for a fifth win in the race, while Dan Skelton will saddle Anxiety attack, Hoe Joly Smoke and Newton Abbot winner Riskintheground.
Meanwhile, Sam Thomas has his string in fine form and Vincenzo is tasked with striking while the iron is hot after some consistent efficiencies last term.
Vincenzo represents the in-form Sam Thomas (Andrew Matthews/PA)
"He put in some great races last season and I 'd rather learn where we are in a leading race than a normal race," said Thomas.
"And if he wins or runs well, we have those two-and-a-half-mile (races) at Cheltenham every meeting near enough, so that would the obvious thing to do with him."
There is a strong Irish hand with Gavin Cromwell bringing over both Thecompanysergeant and The Other Mozzie, Paul Nolan runs Conyers Hill and Henry de Bromhead is double-handed with Turning up Easy and Theatre Native.
The former of De Bromhead's duo has actually won his last three over the larger barriers and shows up on the back of a clear-cut Listed success at Killarney for Darragh O'Keeffe, while Theatre Native will have the assistance of Sean Bowen.
Turning up Easy and Jordan Gainford take Listed honours in the O'Donoghue Ring Collection Handicap Chase Henry de Bromhead can do no incorrect pic.twitter.com/g99UcNmj7K
- KillarneyRaces (@KillarneyRaces) August 23, 2025
De Bromhead stated: "They are two great horses, and both remain in excellent form.
"Showing up Easy has actually won his last 3 and did it nicely at Killarney the last day.
"Theatre Native won well around there last year and she 'd a good first run back in Limerick, so ideally she will step forward from that.
"We were thrilled to get Sean to ride Theatre Native and we have two jockeys in type which is great."
Bad shows up in top type (Nigel French/PA)
The rest of the field is comprised of Venetia Williams' Hunter Legend, Gary and Josh Moore's Issar d'Airy and Ben Pauling's Bad, who tuned up for this with a win at Kempton last month.
"We'll learn if he's simply a Kempton professional or not. I think he's a various horse to the one I trained a number of years back," stated Pauling.
"He ran really well in the Boodles (Fred Winter). I know he was nearly favourite and wound up being beaten 10 lengths however he struck the front plenty quickly enough that day.
"We will discover out however if he's versatile enough to deal with any track, he's going there in extremely great order and he need to be competitive."