Ground Conditions Put Paid to Jagwar ´ S Cheltenham Bid
Ante-post Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase favourite Jagwar has been dismissed of Saturday's Cheltenham showpiece, being declared a non-runner due to ground conditions.
The distinguished early-season contest had actually been a long-held prepare for the training team 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 carry top-weight around Cheltenham and with the ground rapidly degrading on Friday due to unrelenting rain, connections have chosen to keep their powder dry with the six-year-old.
It was a gloomy scene at Cheltenham at the close of racing on Friday (David Davies for The Jockey Club)
"It is due to the fact that of the method the ground has gone, it was going to be really tough for him so we've decided with Oliver and Josh that we'll await another day," stated Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus.
"It's a pity to miss the race, but it the very best thing for the horse. It's no huge deal and he was ready to run, it's just the ground has actually opted for him.
"We'll be looking at all the alternative races for him now as he is extremely well and was all set to go."
Alan King, a trainer who ten years ago struck with Annacotty, runs Es Perfecto in the very same colours - a gelding who finished only nine lengths behind Caldwell Potter when 5th at the Cheltenham Festival.
"This has been his target for a long time and his preparation has actually gone well. I more than happy enough with him," stated King.
Trainer Alan King is looking for another Paddy Power Gold Cup win (David Davies/PA)
"He ran effectively at the Festival - he just got lacked the locations in the last 50 lawns.
"He's prepared to begin back and we'll see how we go."
Paul Nicholls might be without the aforementioned Caldwell Potter, but can get in touch with protecting champion Il Ridoto searching for a fifth win in the race, while Dan Skelton will saddle Panic Attack, Hoe Joly Smoke and Newton Abbot winner Riskintheground.
Meanwhile, Sam Thomas has his string in great form and Vincenzo is charged 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," stated 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 apparent thing to do with him."
There is a strong Irish hand with Gavin Cromwell bringing over both Thecompanysergeant and The Other Mozzie, Paul Nolan Hill and Henry de Bromhead is double-handed with Turning up Easy and Theatre Native.
The previous of De Bromhead's duo has actually won his last 3 over the larger challenges and arrives on the back of a well-defined Listed success at Killarney for Darragh O'Keeffe, while Theatre Native will have the help of champ jockey Sean Bowen.
Showing up Easy and Jordan Gainford take Listed honours in the O'Donoghue Ring Collection Handicap Chase Henry de Bromhead can do no wrong pic.twitter.com/g99UcNmj7K
- KillarneyRaces (@KillarneyRaces) August 23, 2025
De Bromhead stated: "They are 2 nice horses, and both are in great kind.
"Showing up Easy has won his last three and did it well at Killarney the last day.
"Theatre Native won well around there in 2015 and she 'd a good very first run back in Limerick, so ideally she will advance from that.
"We were delighted to get Sean to ride Theatre Native and we have two jockeys in kind which is terrific."
Bad shows up in leading form (Nigel French/PA)
The remainder 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 discover out if he's just a Kempton expert or not. I believe he's a various horse to the one I trained a couple of years back," said 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 hit the front plenty quickly enough that day.
"We will find out however if he's flexible enough to manage any track, he's going there in excellent order and he must be competitive."