Ground Conditions Put Paid to Jagwar ´ S Cheltenham Bid
Ante-post Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase preferred Jagwar has actually been dismissed of Saturday's Cheltenham showpiece, being stated a non-runner due to ground conditions.
The prominent early-season contest had actually been a long-held strategy for the training group Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero considering that landing the Plate with ease at the Cheltenham Festival, and although positive ahead of the race the team 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 degrading on Friday due to relentless rain, connections have chosen to keep their powder dry with the six-year-old.
It was a dismal 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 way the ground has gone, it was going to be very difficult for him so we have actually chosen with Oliver and Josh that we'll wait for another day," said Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus.
"It's a pity to miss out on the race, however it the very best thing for the horse. It's no huge deal and he was prepared 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 effectively and was ready to go."
Alan King, a trainer who ten years ago struck with Annacotty, runs Es Perfecto in the very same colours - a gelding who completed just nine lengths behind Caldwell Potter when fifth at the Cheltenham Festival.
"This has actually been his target for some time and his preparation has actually gone well. I'm 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 places in the last 50 yards.
"He's prepared to start back and we'll see how we go."
Paul Nicholls might be without the abovementioned Caldwell Potter, however can contact defending 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, Sam Thomas has his string in fine kind and Vincenzo is entrusted with striking while the iron is hot after some constant performances 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 where we remain in a leading race than a regular 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 Showing up Easy and Theatre Native.
The previous of De Bromhead's duo has won his last three over the larger obstacles and shows up on the back of a specific Listed success at Killarney for Darragh O'Keeffe, while Theatre Native will have the help of jockey Sean Bowen.
Coming 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 good horses, and both remain in good kind.
"Coming Up Easy has won his last three and did it perfectly at Killarney the last day.
"Theatre Native won well around there last year and she 'd a good first run back in Limerick, so hopefully she will advance from that.
"We were delighted to get Sean to ride Theatre Native and we have 2 jockeys in type which is fantastic."
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 couple of years back," said Pauling.
"He ran effectively in the Boodles (Fred Winter). I know he was almost preferred and ended up being beaten 10 lengths but he struck the front plenty soon enough that day.
"We will find out but if he's versatile enough to deal with any track, he's going there in great order and he should be competitive."