Horse Power: Lets Go Champ can win the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham

LETS GO CHAMP can win the Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (2.40pm) at Cheltenham on Saturday afternoon.

Henry De Bromhead’s nine-year-old can become the first Irish-trained winner of the feature at Prestbury Park since Edward O’Grady’s Tranquil Sea in 2009. Despite being a nine-year-old Lets Go Champ hasn’t many miles on the clock as he only made his belated debut over obstacles in January 2023 – when finishing third in a two-mile maiden hurdle at Punchestown. He has had eight starts since then, five of those over the bigger obstacles.

After being second and third twice he got off the mark when landing a Grade Three Handicap Chase over this sort of distance at Punchestown in May this year. He then ran a fine race in the Galway Plate in July, only fading into sixth late on behind Pinkerton. That was over an extended 2m6f so the drop back to 2m4f at Cheltenham should be ideal. He has done well on this unseasonable better ground, so everything looks in place for a big showing.

He is clearly open to more improvement and with the De Bromhead stable in such good form this season and at this meeting over the past few years, Lets Go Champ looks sure to be in the shake-up and can come out on top.

As always the Paddy Power Gold Cup looks a really competitive contest and there are several dangers to the selection. Chief among them is Harry Derham’s Imagine, who was an expensive purchase out of the Gordon Elliott stable. He makes his debut for Derham and the six-year-old is another open to lots of improvement and he could go close. Paul Nicholls – who won this with Stage Star last year – has two in with a good chance of victory in Il Ridoto and Ginny’s Destiny; while the Jamie Snowden-trained 2022 Paddy Power winner Ga Law; and top weight Protektorat – the former smart Grade One performer from the Dan Skelton stable – could also run big races.

Skelton’s L’EAU DU SUD can continue his progress over fences with victory in the Grade Two Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase (Registered As The November) (GBB Race) (1.45pm). The six-year-old grey – who was second in the County Hurdle at last season's Cheltenham Festival – made a winning debut over fences in a 2m4f Handicap Chase at Stratford last month. He made one mistake but went on to score by 10 lengths. He is progressing well and can make it two from two stepped back down to two miles.

EAST INDIA DOCK can also make it two wins from two starts this season in the Grade Two JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Registered As The Prestbury Juvenile Hurdle) (GBB Race) (12.35pm). The James Owen-trained three-year-old gelded son of Golden Horn won twice on the Flat and also made a winning debut over hurdles with a smooth success at Wincanton last month. He can build on that first start and stepped up in grade can score again.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies’ stable has started the season in good form and THE NEWEST ONE can give them another winner in the SSS Super Alloys Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (1.10pm). The nine-year-old made a taking winning chase debut over course and distance last month. And despite being higher in the handicap for that, he can score again ahead of chiefly Derham’s Come On Teddy.

Twiston-Davies may double up in the Paddy Power Games Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.55pm) with GOWEL ROAD. The eight-year-old – who was sixth in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at last season’s Festival – was also second over course and distance last month. He can go one better this time.

Others who can score at Prestbury Park are Henry Daly’s WYENOT – a winner at Cheltenham on his seasonal return last month – in the Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (3.30pm); and the Willie Mullins-trained hat-trick-seeking KORINTHIA in the finale, the Listed Karndean Designflooring mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race (GBB Race) (4.05pm).

At Wetherby Ann Hamilton’s recent Kelso scorer PAY THE PIPER can go in again in the Colin Baldwin Memorial Handicap Chase (1.35pm); while the Fergal O’Brien-trained LIVERPOOL KNIGHT can take the Peak Cap & Pearls Handicap Hurdle (1pm).

Others who can score at Wetherby are Declan Carroll’s EMIYN in the Join Racing TV Now ‘Introductory’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.10pm); the Lucinda Russell-trained OLD GREGORIAN in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier) (2.45pm); and HIDALGO DE L'ISLE – from the Cheshire stable of Merseyside-born handler Donald McCain – in the Follow @Racingtv On Twitter Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (12.27pm).

At Uttoxeter McCain may also be among the winners with PRESENT FAIR in the European Heathyards 50th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle (2.28pm) and KABUKI in the Quinnbet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (12.45pm); while another Cheshire stable – Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero's – may take the Keith Bailey Memorial Handicap Hurdle (3.03pm) with CAWTHORNE CRACKER.

At Cheltenham Skelton’s BE AWARE can win the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.30pm). The five-year-old has only won once over obstacles – on his debut at Newbury in January. But he has been second three times since and with that experience under his belt, he may be able to land this valuable prize before potentially going on to bigger and better things.

Jonjo O’Neill’s BOB BOB RICARD has a decent each-way chance in the Cheltenham Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (1.45pm).

The Twiston-Davies-trained MATATA – runner-up on his seasonal return over course and distance last month – can go one better in the Southam Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.20pm).

The Joe Tizzard-trained ROSE OF ARCADIA – a winner at Sandown in March and third on his seasonal return at Exeter last month – can triumph in the Holland Cooper Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (2.55pm); while Adrian Keatley’s debutant MAGHLAAK can win the Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (1.10pm).

Wright Ones

CHELTENHAM (Saturday)

12.35pm East India Dock
1.10pm The Newest One
1.45pm L’eau Du Sud
2.20pm Lets Go Champ (NAP)
2.55pm Gowel Road
3.30pm Wyenot
4.05pm Korinthia

WETHERBY

11.57am Serious Chat
12.27pm Hidalgo De L’isle
1pm Liverpool Knight
1.35pm Pay The Piper
2.10pm Emiyn
2.45pm Old Gregorian
3.20pm Cartonne

UTTOXETER

12.10pm Kingston Pride
12.45pm Kabuki
1.20pm Sporting Ace
1.53pm Lime Drop
2.28pm Present Fair
3.03pm Cawthorne Cracker
3.38pm John Barbour

NEWCASTLE

3.15pm Dubai Honour
3.48pm Night Raider
4.18pm Mu Mu Land
4.48pm King Of Stars
5.18pm A Fine Claret
5.48pm Annandale
6.18pm Tasever
6.48pm Bobby Joe Leg
7.18pm Jenni

WOLVERHAMPTON

4.30pm Voltaic
5pm Cadarn
5.30pm Bob The Bandit
6pm Bulletin
6.30pm Penfolds Grange
7pm Red Scotch
7.30pm Em Jay Kay
8pm War Chant
8.30pm Star Time

CHELTENHAM (Sunday)

1.10pmMaghlaak
1.45pm Bob Bob Ricard
2.20pm Matata
2.55pm Rose Of Arcadia (NAP)
3.30pm Be Aware
4pm Minella Hollow