2024 Paddy Power Gold Cup Tips

The Paddy Power Gold Cup takes a bit of winning, with the runners and riders competing over two miles and four furlongs. Paul Nicholls will have high hopes for Ginny’s Destiny, with the trainer having seen his runner finishing in the first two during the previous five encounters, with three victories followed by two seconds.

Last time out, the horse was second to Il Etait Temps at Aintree running in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase, with that coming after finishing second in the Turners’ Novices Chase. Previously to that, there was a succession of victories and that includes a triumph at Cheltenham when obliging as the favourite over two miles and four furlongs.

Imagine runs for Harry Derham and there were a couple of notable wins last season, with a triumph coming at Punchestown at the end of November following a success at Fairyhouse. The horse did run at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival and there was a fifth-placed finish in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle.

Il Ridoto was fifth last time out and the Nicholls runner certainly stands a chance in this race, with a midfield finish coming at Chepstow last time out. Perhaps further improvement is on the cards following wind surgery, although it’s been a long time since the horse was able to land a victory.

2023 Paddy Power Gold Cup Tips

There are a clutch of seven and eight-year-olds who head the betting market for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, with Cheltenham Racecourse hosting a race over two miles and four furlongs. It’s likely that there will be plenty of cut in the ground and it all comes down to which of the runners will best negotiate the sixteen fences in the race.

Stage Star was fairly underwhelming when finishing last out of five runners in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase although there had previously been strong performances including at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. In the Turners’ Novices Chase, the horse won over two miles and four furlongs at betting odds of 15/2 and that included seeing off favourite Mighty Potter.

Unexpected Party is an interesting runner who was able to bank a victory in mid-October when running at Chepstow Racecourse. Over two miles, three and a half furlongs, Harry Skelton was able to ride the charge to a win against favourite Knappers Hill. The horse did actually run well as a 100/1 shot in the Turners’ Novices Chase.

The Real Whacker catches the eye and much comes down to whether Patrick Neville’s horse is able to cope with the weight conditions which will see the runner carrying twelve pounds. However, this horse has bagged three consecutive Cheltenham victories and there was plenty to like about their win in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

2022 Paddy Power Gold Cup Tips

Willie Mullins has never saddled a winner at the Paddy Power Gold Cup although perhaps that will change when Fan De Blues lines up in the 2022 renewal at Cheltenham Racecourse. The seven-year-old will be carrying 11-11 for this encounter and he was the winner of the Co-Op Superstores Handicap Chase at Cork Racecourse on 16 October when obliging as the 11/10 favourite.

That was a ten-length victory and the horse racing betting odds suggest that the runner could be a good each-way prospect. There was also a victory in the BoyleSports Chase at Ballinrobe, with a second-placed finish occurring behind Gabbys Cross and Busselton in the Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase.

French Dynamite runs for Mouse Morris and stamina shouldn’t be a problem for a horse that won the He'llberemembered Hurdle at Thurles over two miles and seven furlongs. The fact that the horse made the running was even more impressive, with Ga Law an interesting six-year-old who is carrying less weight in this race.

The Jamie Snowden-trained runner finished third in the Jewson St Helens Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase, with the horse running impressively at betting odds of 11/1. However, Dan Skelton could potentially have a superstar on his hands in the form of Midnight River who was able to claim a 3/1 victory at Stratford by over twenty lengths.

2021 Paddy Power Gold Cup Betting Tips

The Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase is the highlight race at the November Meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse, with this race having been in operation since 1960 and it’s a stern test of stamina and jumping ability as the horses compete over two miles and four furlongs.

Baron Alco, Happy Diva and Coole Cody were recent winners of this race at ages 7, 8 and 9, with the current favourite for this race aged 6 although the betting odds for the Paddy Power Gold Cup indicate that it should be a wide open betting heat.

Protektorat Heads Betting Market for PP Gold Cup

It’s easy to see why punters might take a shine to Protektorat who ran very well for trainer Dan Skelton last season. At the beginning of April, the horse was able to secure an impressive win in the SSS Super Alloys Manifesto Novices' Chase and the horse also obliged at Cheltenham twelve months ago as the 6/5 favourite in the SSS Super Alloys Supports Racing Welfare Novices' Chase.

However, there are lots of lively each-way chances for the race and that includes Simply the Betts, with Paul Nicholls recently bringing the horse into his stable after he was previously under the guidance of Harry Whittington. Indeed, the runner finished sixth in the 2020 Paddy Power Gold Cup, so we might expect him to improve on that showing.

Dan Skelton has another lively contender in the form of Alnadam, with the horse finishing seventh in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last season, with this being a decent showing considering the calibre of runner that lines up on Day 1 of the meeting. Previously to this, Harry Skelton rode him to victory in the Virgin Bet Warriors Handicap Chase.

Nicholls and Henderson Have Other Gold Cup Contenders

In addition to Simply the Betts, Paul Nicholls has a number of entries for this race. Hitman actually ran in the same race as Protektorat at Aintree back in April, finishing third behind the favourite to win this encounter. He also had a facile victory at Newbury in the race before that. Lalor comes from the same stable and has been pulled up in his previous two encounters although the horse did put in a couple of decent showings at Cheltenham even if it was nearly two years ago.

Nicky Henderson won this race with Fondmort in 2003 and there’s every chance that he could be in the frame with one of his horses for the 2021 renewal. Fusil Raffles is a well-known runner that finished second behind Chantry House in the Marsh Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and he looks like a great each-way selection in this race.

Can Saint Sonnet Oblige as Gold Cup Betting Favourite?

The 2020 Paddy Power Gold Cup betting market is currently wide open, with Saint Sonnet trading as the market leader and you can get anywhere between 11/2 and 7/1 about the horse who has been quietly impressive during his career although he won’t have been seen at a race track since the 2020 Cheltenham Festival.

On that occasion, the five-year-old ran in the Marsh Novices’ Chase where he finished well down the order in what was a competitive race, with Samcro having claimed the spoils although the Paul Nicholls-trained charge was sent off at 33/1 and certainly outran his odds to beat several other classy horses.

The horse was largely schooled in France before making his UK debut at Catterick in a pre-Festival prep run which was won comfortably enough, although there is a case for several other horses in the race.

Imperial Aura, Mister Fisher and Al Dancer Could All Feature

Imperial Aura is trading anywhere between 8/1 and 14/1 for the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Kim Bailey-trained charge landed the spoils in the Northern Trust Company Novices' Handicap Chase at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival which could mark him out for glory in this race.

Indeed, this is a horse that seems to like Prestbury Park after finishing second in a Handicap Chase last January, while there was another runner-up spot in a novices’ chase the month before, while Mister Fisher is another horse to be respected and this Nicky Henderson finished fourth in the Marsh Novices’ Chase.

The History of the Paddy Power Gold Cup

The race originally started in 1960 and was known as the Mackeson Gold Cup, with this name being retained until 1995 where it switched to Murphy’s and then Thomas Pink. Paddy Power took over the sponsorship of the race in 2003 and have recently re-taken over the event following a brief spell from BetVictor.

There have been a number of horses that have won the Gold Cup on more than one occasion and the latest of these was Cyfor Malta who obliged in 1998 and 2002 for trainer Martin Pipe. The most recent winners have included Happy Diva, Baron Alco and Splash of Ginge, while Al Ferof and Imperial Commander have also landed victories in this race.