14:20
Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Steeple Chase (Premier Handicap) (Registered As The William Holman) (GBB Race)
Class 1, 2m4f, Chase, 4yo+, £91,120, 10 runners
Winning time 4m 52.36s
- Going
- Good
- Surface
- Turf
Tip for this race
All today's tips ›Matata No. 1
J. J. Slevin · Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
✓ Top rated ✓ Course winner ✓ Back from a 210-day break
Matata heads our ratings on 160, a full 7 lb better than Blueking d'Oroux on 153, and that is a meaningful edge in a thirteen-runner Class 1 over twenty furlongs on good ground at Cheltenham. Blueking d'Oroux is the chief danger, with Riskintheground on 150 and Johnnywho on 149 also firmly in the picture, so this is far from a penalty-kick, and our confidence is low. Even so, the rating advantage is enough to make Matata the one to beat, and he is our selection.
Result
Harry Cobden
Ben Pauling
raced prominent just behind the front one - went to the front 3 out and met a rival before 2 out under urging - stumbled at the last - kept finding for pressure on the run-in and pulled clear 110yds out to win
Harry Skelton
Dan Skelton
settled in midfield - moved up to third - disputed the lead before 2 out - still in the fight when clipping the last - urged on the run-in but weakened final 110yds to finish second
Gavin Sheehan
Jamie Snowden
J. J. Slevin
Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
Raced in midfield early - moved up to sit 3rd - lost ground with a sluggish jump at the 8th - urged after 3 out and kept going at the same speed from 2 out to finish 4th
Sam Twiston-Davies
Paul Nicholls
Front rank early under pressure from rival - clouted 5th and lost top spot 3 out - shaken up before 2 out - weakened before the last to finish 5th
Sean Quinlan
Jennie Candlish
Sean Bowen
Henry de Bromhead
Prominent early - drifted back to the tail by the 3rd - ridden before 4 out and soon detached - finished 7th well beaten
Freddie Keighley (5)
Martin Keighley
Raced in the pack - ran out of steam 3 out - finished 8th and well beaten
Harry Atkins (5)
Dan Skelton
raced in the pack early - urged after 4 out then dropped right away behind - eased to a halt before 2 out
Sean Flanagan
Paul Nolan
Raced in the pack - erred at the 4th then blundered badly 4 out and dropped away - well adrift and pulled up before the following fence
Non-runners: Madara, Norn Iron, Johnnywho, July Flower, Guard Your Dreams
Racecard
J. J. Slevin
Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies 6/38
Matata won five starts back and was fifth on each of his two runs after that, though a fall last time and a pulled up since temper the picture after 210 days off. He has run over today's trip and going, and our rating of 160 tops the field, so he is the one to beat despite the 168 lb.
- Sire
- Vadamos (FR)
- Dam
- Wattrey (GB) by Royal Academy
- Owner
- Simon Munir Isaac Souede
- Foaled
- 26 Apr 2018
- Stable
- Naunton, Gloucs
- Trainer last 14 days
- 6 wins from 38 runs (16%)
- Trainer running to form
- 54%
- Ratings
- Perf 160
Tristan Durrell
Dan Skelton 19/95
- Sire
- Doctor Dino (FR)
- Dam
- Becquascenthe (FR) by Nombre Premier
- Owner
- Bryan Drew And Friends
- Foaled
- 26 Feb 2019
- Stable
- Alcester, Warwicks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 19 wins from 95 runs (20%)
Harry Cobden
Ben Pauling 4/25
Meetmebythesea has won three of his last four, including last time out, and has run over today's trip and going before, but a 247-day absence and 164 lb on an official mark of 151 are hurdles to overcome. Our rating of 144 ranks him seventh of 13.
- Sire
- Watar (IRE)
- Dam
- Lake Wakatipu (GB) by Lake Coniston
- Owner
- John P Mcmanus
- Foaled
- 30 Mar 2020
- Stable
- Naunton, Gloucs
- Trainer last 14 days
- 4 wins from 25 runs (16%)
- Trainer running to form
- 54%
- Ratings
- Perf 144
Johnnywho t C D
217 days, Non-runner
9yo, 11-9, OR 150 53514-
J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr. · T: Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill
Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill 5/39
Johnnywho counts as a leading danger, having won two starts back and finished a fourth last time out, while he has run over today's trip and our rating of 149 ranks him fourth of 13. The main risk is a 217-day absence, with 163 lb to carry on an official mark of 150.
- Sire
- Califet (FR)
- Dam
- Howaya Pet (IRE) by Montelimar
- Owner
- John P Mcmanus
- Foaled
- 21 Mar 2017
- Stable
- Cheltenham, Gloucs
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 39 runs (13%)
- Trainer running to form
- 45%
- Ratings
- Perf 149
- Wind surgery
- w 2
Harry Skelton
Dan Skelton 19/95
Blueking d'Oroux has finished second in two of his last three runs, and he was a winner four starts back, while he has run over today's trip and on this going before; our rating of 153 puts him second of 13. The main risk is a 219-day absence, and he carries 161 lb.
- Sire
- Jeu St Eloi (FR)
- Dam
- Belle Du Bresil (FR) by Blue Bresil
- Owner
- Mrs Johnny De La Hey
- Foaled
- 15 May 2019
- Stable
- Alcester, Warwicks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 19 wins from 95 runs (20%)
- Trainer running to form
- 55%
- Ratings
- Perf 153
Harry Atkins (5)
Dan Skelton 19/95
Riskintheground arrives fresh from a third last time out just 14 days ago, and he has a winner four starts back plus a second five starts back, with experience over today's trip and going. The main risk is a hefty 159 lb, with a sixth two starts back showing he can falter.
- Sire
- Presenting (GB)
- Dam
- The Folkes Choice (GB) by King's Theatre
- Owner
- 3 Sons
- Foaled
- 15 May 2017
- Stable
- Alcester, Warwicks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 19 wins from 95 runs (20%)
- Trainer running to form
- 55%
- Ratings
- Perf 150
July Flower C D
200 days, Non-runner
7yo, 11-1, OR 142 11354-
J: Darragh O'Keeffe · T: Henry de Bromhead
Darragh O'Keeffe
Henry de Bromhead 7/43
July Flower won twice in her last five starts, though that was four and five starts back, and she's since managed a fifth, then a fourth last time out. She has run over today's trip and going, but 200 days off and 155 lb are hurdles to clear.
- Sire
- Pastorius (GER)
- Dam
- Aurelle D'Arthel (FR) by Astarabad
- Owner
- Duncan Angove
- Foaled
- 23 Mar 2019
- Stable
- Knockeen, Co Waterford
- Trainer last 14 days
- 7 wins from 43 runs (16%)
- Trainer running to form
- 58%
- Ratings
- Perf 147
Sam Twiston-Davies
Paul Nicholls 5/31
Quebecois bounces back from a pulled-up effort with a second last time out, and he has run over today's trip and going before, but he is winless in his last five and has to carry 154 lb off 141 after 28 days off.
- Sire
- No Risk At All (FR)
- Dam
- Miss Poutine (FR) by Chamberlin
- Owner
- Mcneill Stevens Mckenzie Flowers Walsh
- Foaled
- 14 Mar 2019
- Stable
- Ditcheat, Somerset
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 31 runs (16%)
- Trainer running to form
- 64%
- Ratings
- Perf 141
Freddie Keighley (5)
Martin Keighley 2/8
O'Moore Park won last time out and was third two starts back, so he arrives in good heart after 21 days off, having run over today's trip and going before. Carrying 151 lb off 138 and ranked ninth of thirteen by our rating, he may find the weight a stiff ask.
- Sire
- Walk In The Park (IRE)
- Dam
- Glor Na Gaoithe (IRE) by Presenting
- Owner
- Clink, Fishwick, Maughan & Salters
- Foaled
- 7 Mar 2017
- Stable
- Luckley, Gloucs
- Trainer last 14 days
- 2 wins from 8 runs (25%)
- Trainer running to form
- 41%
- Ratings
- Perf 141
Guard Your Dreams t CD
31 days, Non-runner
10yo, 10-11, OR 138 21B4-P
J: Toby McCain-Mitchell (3) · T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
Toby McCain-Mitchell (3)
Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies 6/38
Guard Your Dreams won four starts back and was a fourth two runs ago, but he was pulled up last time out and has had 31 days since. He has run over today's trip and going, yet 151 lb is a stiff burden for a midfield-ranked runner.
- Sire
- Fame And Glory (GB)
- Dam
- Native Sunrise (IRE) by Definite Article
- Owner
- Graham And Alison Jelley
- Foaled
- 9 May 2016
- Stable
- Naunton, Gloucs
- Trainer last 14 days
- 6 wins from 38 runs (16%)
- Trainer running to form
- 54%
- Ratings
- Perf 145
Sean Bowen
Henry de Bromhead 7/43
- Sire
- Doctor Dino (FR)
- Dam
- Zureka (FR) by Zanzibari
- Owner
- Pimlico Racing Ireland
- Foaled
- 4 Feb 2019
- Stable
- Knockeen, Co Waterford
- Trainer last 14 days
- 7 wins from 43 runs (16%)
- Trainer running to form
- 58%
- Ratings
- Perf 141
Paul O'Brien
Harry Derham 5/21
- Sire
- Soldier Of Fortune (IRE)
- Dam
- Coco Des Champs (IRE) by Robin Des Champs
- Owner
- Dr Paul Kelly
- Foaled
- 1 Mar 2018
- Stable
- Upper Lambourn, Berks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 21 runs (24%)
Sean Flanagan
Paul Nolan 6/30
Release The Beast unseated last time out and returns after 198 days off, which makes him hard to fancy, though a fourth, then two seconds in the runs before that, show he can be competitive, and he has run over today's trip and going. Carrying 148 lb, he is ranked 11 of 13 on our figures.
- Sire
- Affinisea (IRE)
- Dam
- Miss Franklin (IRE) by Orpen
- Owner
- Coffey Buckley Families
- Foaled
- 14 Mar 2019
- Stable
- Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
- Trainer last 14 days
- 6 wins from 30 runs (20%)
- Trainer running to form
- 32%
- Ratings
- Perf 139
Gavin Sheehan
Jamie Snowden 11/27
Torneo arrives a double winner, successful last time out and two starts back, and he has run over today's trip and going, with a yard in cracking form. Carrying 147 lb off an official rating of 134 after a 31-day break, though, he looks vulnerable, and our figures rank him only 12th of 13.
- Sire
- Toronado (IRE)
- Dam
- Abbronzatissima (IRE) by Teofilo
- Owner
- Torneo Syndicate
- Foaled
- 6 Feb 2020
- Stable
- Lambourn, Berks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 11 wins from 27 runs (41%)
- Trainer running to form
- 53%
- Ratings
- Perf 132
Sean Quinlan
Jennie Candlish 3/11
Dunkerque's recent form reads well, with a third last time out, a second, and three wins in his last six starts, and he has run over today's trip and going. Even so, he's 53 days off, carries 145 lb off 132, and our figures rank him last of 13, so he's hard to fancy.
- Sire
- Appel Au Maitre (FR)
- Dam
- Silver Seas (DEN) by Pour Moi
- Owner
- Shaun Henley
- Foaled
- 1 Mar 2020
- Stable
- Basford, Staffs
- Trainer last 14 days
- 3 wins from 11 runs (27%)
- Trainer running to form
- 43%
- Ratings
- Perf 129
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.