14 Declared For Paddy Power Gold Cup

A total of 14 horses have been declared for Saturday´s £110,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup, the highlight of The Open at Cheltenham.

Last year´s hero Fondmort bids to retain his crown and become the first horse to record back-to-back victories since Bradbury Star in 1993 and 1994.

Martin Pipe, seeking his seventh Paddy Power Gold Cup, relies on It Takes Time and Celestial Gold while fellow Somerset trainer Philip Hobbs, successful in 1989 with Joint Sovereignty, also has a strong hand with recent impressive Aintree winner Farmer Jack and Monkerhostin, triumphant last season in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and the current ante-post favourite. Farmer Jack´s win at Aintree came in the Grade Two totesport Wigan Chase on October 24, when he had 11 lengths to spare over fellow Paddy Power Gold Cup contender Take The Stand. Both Farmer Jack and Take The Stand will be aiming to increase their points standing in the BHB´s new Order of Merit Series in the Paddy Power Gold Cup following on from their efforts at Aintree.

Paul Nicholls has yet to add to Paddy Power Gold Cup to his CV but has two runners in Thisthatandtother, one of last season´s leading novices and Le Duc while the Gary Moore-trained Tikram, successful over the course and distance in last year´s Mildmay of Flete Chase at the Festival, is another leading contender.

The Irish have not landed the extended two and a half mile contest since Bright Highway in 1980 and this year are represented by Colca Canyon, fifth to Beef Or Salmon in last Saturday´s James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal, and the Charlie Swan-trained Ground Ball, runner-up in the 2004 Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham.

Local trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies runs Ollie Magern, an impressive winner at Cheltenham´s October meeting, with the field completed by the Venetia Williams-trained Kelrev, fourth behind Tikram in last season´s Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup, and Better Days from the Sue Smith yard. Better Days finished second to Spring Grove on his latest start over the course and distance in the RHT 40th Anniversary Handicap Chase on October 27 .

The Open (Friday, Saturday & Sunday, November 12-14) comprises three days which herald the moment when jump racing takes centre stage. Each day has its own character and together they form an irresistible package.