Poq on top of Paddy Power betting
Poquelin heads a five-strong entry from the Paul Nicholls stable in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on November 14.
The recent course winner tops the betting at 5-1 with the sponsors but his trainer can also call on Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase winner Chapoturgeon as well as Tatenen, Gwanako and Grand National third My Will in a total entry of 49.
Our Vic is one of a four-strong David Pipe-trained team that also includes 2007 Boylesports.com Gold Cup winner Tamarinbleu, I’m So Lucky and The Package, while Alan King has Tarotino and Sir Harry Ormesher.
Nicky Henderson has a handy-looking squad in Champion Chase third Petit Robin, The Queen’s Barbers Shop, My Petra, Pepsyrock and Strawberry.
Nigel Twiston-Davies, successful with Imperial Commander last year and Tipping Tim in 1992, has four possibles in Knowhere, Ballyfitz, Battlecry and Razor Royale.
North Yorkshire trainer Malcolm Jefferson is hoping there will be plenty of cut in the ground for his entry According To Pete.
“He will likely run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup if it comes up soft,” said Jefferson.
“Two and a half miles might just be on the short side unless the ground is really in his favour. I put him in because you never know, it might just rain and not stop, and if that happened he would be in there on a fair weight.”
There are four Irish-trained entries – the Edward O’Grady-trained Tranquil Sea, The Last Derby from the Eoin Griffin yard, Noel Meade’s Jaamid and Tony Martin’s Kerry National winner Northern Alliance, just a 10-1 chance with the sponsors but not a certain starter.
Martin said: “He’s in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and two races at Down Royal on November 7, the JNwine.com Champion Chase and a race for second-season novices, and it all depends on the ground as he wouldn’t want heavy ground.
“It’s very early to call yet which one he’ll go for, but I am very happy with him, all is going well and he is an intended runner somewhere in the next fortnight.
“I thought that he had a great chance at Listowel last time and it was lovely that he did it as well as he did and he was very good.
“If he did run in the Paddy Power, he’d have no problems going back to two and a half miles as Cheltenham is a lot stiffer than Listowel and he has won over two miles and been third and fourth in the Galway Hurdle over two.
“Wherever he goes next, I’d hope that he would stand a nice chance.”
Paddy Power Gold Cup, sponsors bet: 5-1 Poquelin, 9-1 Tarotino, 10-1 Chapoturgeon, Tatenen, Northern Alliance, 12-1 Barbers Shop, Tranquil Sea, 14-1 From Dawn To Dusk, Watch My Back, 16-1 bar.
