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 strategy for the training team Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero given that landing the Plate with ease at the Cheltenham Festival, and although confident ahead of the race the team will have to hold off running their JP McManus-owned gelding.
He was because of bring top-weight around Cheltenham and with the ground rapidly deteriorating on Friday due to unrelenting rain, connections have decided 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 since of the method the ground has actually gone, it was going to be really hard for him so we've decided with Oliver and Josh that we'll wait on another day," said Frank Berry, racing supervisor to McManus.
"It's a pity to miss the race, but it the finest thing for the horse. It's no big offer and he was all set to run, it's simply the ground has opted for him.
"We'll be taking a look at all the alternative races for him now as he is extremely well and was prepared 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 9 lengths behind Caldwell Potter when fifth at the Cheltenham Festival.
"This has actually been his target for a long time and his preparation has worked out. I'm pleased enough with him," said King.
Trainer Alan King is looking for another Paddy Power Gold Cup win (David Davies/PA)
"He ran extremely well at the Festival - he just got run out of the places in the last 50 lawns.
"He's all set to begin back and we'll see how we go."
Paul Nicholls might be without the abovementioned Caldwell Potter, however can contact protecting champion Il Ridoto in search of a fifth win in the race, while Dan Skelton will saddle Anxiety attack, Hoe Joly Smoke and Newton Abbot winner Riskintheground.
Meanwhile, Sam Thomas has his string in great form and Vincenzo is charged with while the iron is hot after some consistent 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 learn where we remain 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 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 Turning up Easy and Theatre Native.
The previous of De Bromhead's duo has won his last 3 over the bigger challenges and shows up on the back of a well-defined Listed success at Killarney for Darragh O'Keeffe, while Theatre Native will have the help of champion jockey Sean Bowen.
Showing up Easy and Jordan Gainford take Listed honours in the O'Donoghue Ring Collection Handicap Chase Henry de Bromhead can do no wrong pic.twitter.com/g99UcNmj7K
- KillarneyRaces (@KillarneyRaces) August 23, 2025
De Bromhead stated: "They are two good horses, and both remain in great kind.
"Showing up Easy has actually won his last three and did it well at Killarney the last day.
"Theatre Native won well around there last year and she 'd a good very first run back in Limerick, so ideally she will step forward from that.
"We were thrilled to get Sean to ride Theatre Native and we have two 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 discover out if he's just a Kempton expert or not. I believe he's a various horse to the one I trained a number of years back," stated Pauling.
"He ran really well in the Boodles (Fred Winter). I know he was almost favourite and wound up being beaten 10 lengths but he hit the front plenty soon enough that day.
"We will discover however if he's flexible enough to deal with any track, he's going there in great order and he must be competitive."