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 masterpiece, being stated a non-runner due to ground conditions.
The prestigious early-season contest had been a long-held plan for the training team Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero considering that landing the Plate with ease at the Cheltenham Festival, and although positive ahead of the race the group will have to hold back running their JP McManus-owned gelding.
He was because of carry top-weight around Cheltenham and with the ground rapidly weakening on Friday due to unrelenting rain, connections have actually 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 method the ground has gone, it was going to be extremely tough for him so we've decided with Oliver and Josh that we'll await another day," stated Frank Berry, racing supervisor 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 all set to run, it's simply the ground has actually gone 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 fitness instructor who ten years ago struck with Annacotty, runs Es Perfecto in the very same colours - a gelding who completed just 9 lengths behind Caldwell Potter when 5th at the Cheltenham Festival.
"This has actually been his target for some 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 really well at the Festival - he just got lacked the places in the last 50 yards.
"He's all set to start back and we'll see how we go."
Paul Nicholls may be without the aforementioned Caldwell Potter, but can call on protecting champ Il Ridoto in search of a 5th 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 type 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 terrific races last season and I 'd rather find out where we are in a leading race than a common 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 Showing up Easy and Theatre Native.
The former of De Bromhead's duo has won his last 3 over the larger obstacles and gets here on the back of a clear-cut Listed success at Killarney for Darragh O'Keeffe, while Theatre Native will have the help of champ jockey Sean Bowen.
Coming Up Easy and Jordan Gainford take Listed honours in the 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 2 nice horses, and both remain in excellent form.
"Turning up Easy has won his last 3 and did it perfectly at Killarney the last day.
"Theatre Native won well around there last year and she had actually a great very first run back in Limerick, so ideally she will advance from that.
"We were pleased to get Sean to ride Theatre Native and we have 2 jockeys in kind which is terrific."
Bad shows up in top form (Nigel French/PA)
The remainder 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 specialist or not. I think he's a various horse to the one I trained a number of years back," said Pauling.
"He ran extremely well in the Boodles (Fred Winter). I understand he was almost favourite and ended up being beaten 10 lengths but he struck the front plenty quickly enough that day.
"We will discover out however if he's versatile enough to manage any track, he's going there in really excellent order and he need to be competitive."