Ground Conditions Put Paid to Jagwar ´ S Cheltenham Bid
Ante-post Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase preferred Jagwar has actually been eliminated of Saturday's Cheltenham showpiece, being stated a non-runner due to ground conditions.
The prestigious early-season contest had actually been a long-held prepare for the training group Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero since landing the Plate with ease at the Cheltenham Festival, and although confident ahead of the race the group will have to hold off running their JP McManus-owned gelding.
He was due to carry top-weight around Cheltenham and with the ground quickly weakening on Friday due to relentless rain, connections have actually 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 because of the way the ground has actually gone, it was going to be extremely hard for him so we have actually chosen with Oliver and Josh that we'll wait on another day," said Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus.
"It's a pity to miss the race, however it the finest thing for the horse. It's no big deal and he was ready to run, it's simply the ground has gone for him.
"We'll be looking at all the alternative races for him now as he is very well and was ready to go."
Alan King, a fitness instructor who 10 years ago struck with Annacotty, runs Es Perfecto in the very same colours - a gelding who finished only nine lengths behind Caldwell Potter when fifth at the Cheltenham Festival.
"This has been his target for a long time and his preparation has worked out. I'm happy 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 may be without the aforementioned Caldwell Potter, however can get in touch with protecting champion Il Ridoto in search of a fifth win in the race, while Dan Skelton will saddle Panic Attack, Hoe Joly Smoke and Newton Abbot winner Riskintheground.
Meanwhile, has his string in great form and Vincenzo is charged with striking while the iron is hot after some constant 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 discover out where we remain 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 conference 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 Coming Up Easy and Theatre Native.
The former of De Bromhead's duo has won his last three over the bigger obstacles and arrives on the back of a precise Listed success at Killarney for Darragh O'Keeffe, while Theatre Native will have the help of champion jockey 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 said: "They are two good horses, and both are in good form.
"Turning up Easy has won his last three and did it nicely at Killarney the last day.
"Theatre Native won well around there in 2015 and she 'd a nice very first run back in Limerick, so hopefully she will step forward from that.
"We were pleased to get Sean to ride Theatre Native and we have 2 jockeys in kind which is fantastic."
Bad shows up in top form (Nigel French/PA)
The rest of the field is made up 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 believe he's a various horse to the one I trained a couple of years ago," stated Pauling.
"He ran effectively in the Boodles (Fred Winter). I know he was nearly preferred and wound up being beaten 10 lengths however he hit the front plenty soon enough that day.
"We will learn but if he's versatile enough to deal with any track, he's going there in extremely good order and he ought to be competitive."