Ground Conditions Put Paid to Jagwar ´ S Cheltenham Bid
Ante-post Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase preferred Jagwar has actually been dismissed of Saturday's Cheltenham showpiece, being stated a non-runner due to ground conditions.
The prestigious early-season contest had actually been a long-held plan for the training group Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero because landing the Plate with ease at the Cheltenham Festival, and although confident ahead of the race the group will need to hold off running their JP McManus-owned gelding.
He was due to carry top-weight around Cheltenham and with the ground rapidly degrading on Friday due to relentless rain, connections have chosen to keep their powder dry with the six-year-old.
It was a bleak scene at at the close of racing on Friday (David Davies for The Jockey Club)
"It is since of the method the ground has gone, it was going to be really tough for him so we've chosen with Oliver and Josh that we'll wait for another day," said Frank Berry, racing supervisor to McManus.
"It's a pity to miss out on the race, however it the very best thing for the horse. It's no huge offer and he was prepared to run, it's just the ground has gone 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 fitness instructor who ten years ago struck with Annacotty, runs Es Perfecto in the exact same colours - a gelding who completed only nine lengths behind Caldwell Potter when fifth at the Cheltenham Festival.
"This has been his target for a long time and his preparation has gone well. I more than happy enough with him," said King.
Trainer Alan King is looking for another Paddy Power Gold Cup win (David Davies/PA)
"He ran very well at the Festival - he just got lacked the places in the last 50 yards.
"He's ready to begin back and we'll see how we go."
Paul Nicholls might lack the aforementioned Caldwell Potter, however can call on protecting champ 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 entrusted with striking while the iron is hot after some consistent performances 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 remain in a top race than a regular race," stated 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 Turning up Easy and Theatre Native.
The previous of De Bromhead's duo has actually won his last 3 over the larger obstacles and arrives on the back of a well-defined Listed success at Killarney for Darragh O'Keeffe, while Theatre Native will have the support 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 said: "They are two good horses, and both remain in excellent kind.
"Turning up Easy has won his last three and did it perfectly at Killarney the last day.
"Theatre Native won well around there in 2015 and she 'd a nice first run back in Limerick, so ideally she will step forward from that.
"We were happy to get Sean to ride Theatre Native and we have two jockeys in kind which is terrific."
Bad arrives in top kind (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 learn if he's simply a Kempton professional or not. I think he's a different horse to the one I trained a couple of years ago," stated Pauling.
"He ran really well in the Boodles (Fred Winter). I understand he was nearly preferred and ended up being beaten 10 lengths but he hit the front plenty soon enough that day.
"We will discover but if he's versatile enough to deal with any track, he's going there in excellent order and he need to be competitive."