Paul Nicholls loves big handicap chases and I think he can win the feature at Cheltenham today

5 months ago 38

THE Paddy Power Gold Cup looks a cracking contest with two Cheltenham Festival winning novices stepping into handicap company for the first time.

Paul Nicholls’ Stage Star sets the standard, and he looks the one to beat on his form over this distance at Cheltenham from last season, so I think the market has it about right.

Barry fancies Stage Star to run well at Cheltenham today[/caption]

The Real Whacker was excellent when winning the Brown Advisory and that form has worked out really well with Gerri Colombe winning last weekend.

That was over three miles though and I just wonder whether he’s better at that trip than this two-and-a-half.

Notlongtillmay was a good second behind Stage Star in the Turners at the Festival, and then ran well on his reappearance at Cheltenham last month, so he looks to be the main danger to me.

Milan Tino is a strong favourite in the opening juvenile hurdle (12:35), on the back of placing in in a Grade 2 and finishing a good runner-up in Listed company at Auteuil prior to that.

He is taking on a horse who we know more about in Burdett Road, who was very impressive on his hurdles debut at Huntingdon.

He’s a Royal Ascot winner, so is obviously a high-class horse and I might just side with him on this occasion.

I like Fergal O’Brien’s Manothepeople in the amateurs’ race (1:10).

He was a good second at Exeter on his return and had some nice form last season, when winning twice at Chepstow.

I thought he could step up on his reappearance.

The Listed Novices’ Chase (1:45) looks tricky. Mister Coffeyhas the strongest level of form, but he is going into his third season chasing and is still a novice.

I think an end-to-end gallop is what he really needs and I’m not sure he’s going to get that in this relatively small field. Broadway Boy ran a big race behind Flooring Porter here last month.

He won his previous three starts before that, is only a five-year-old and looks to be progressing the whole time. He’s five pounds better off with Weveallbeencaught here and is the one I’d be with.

Buddy One (2:55) was third to Iroko in the Martin Pipe and he’s progressed since.

Last time out he was a good winner at Galway and while he’s now 13 pounds higher than when running at the Festival, Jack Gilligan does take a valuable seven pounds off his back.

He looks to be progressing as a five-year-old and I think he could still be a step ahead of the handicapper.

Both Chantry House and Shan Blue are interesting returned to hurdles, but you would imagine they would have other targets further down the line.

Springwell Boy might well be the right favourite in the Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (3:30) on the basis of his good Graded form from last season, including when third in the Supreme Novices’ Trial at this meeting.

The favourite for the Listed mares’ bumper (4:05) is Willie Mullins’Baby Kate who won a bumper in Ballinrobe on her debut, but that form wouldn’t necessarily excite me.

Sharp Object looks to have stronger form. She won first time out in September and then was second in a Listed bumper to Aurora Vega, who is full sister to Facile Vega, last time out.