Celestial A Possible To Strike Gold Again

Celestial Gold is 12-1 with the sponsors to repeat last year´s victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham next month.

However, the-seven-year-old´s stable companion, Our Vic, is the favourite at 7-1 for the November 12 contest, for which 59 entries have been received.

Their trainer, Martin Pipe, has an outstanding record in the race having won it seven times.

His other winners were Beau Ranger (1987), Challenger Du Luc (1996), Cyfor Malta (1998 and 2002), Lady Cricket (2000) and Shooting Light (2001).

The 15-times champion jumps trainer has a total of nine entries.

The others are Arkle Trophy winner Contraband, Therealbandit, It Takes Time, Horus, Tango Royal, Zeta´s River and recent Irish recruit Windsor Boy, the winner of three novice chases last year for Edward O´Grady.

Devon trainer Victor Dartnall has the option of running Lord Sam in the extended-two-and-a-half-mile contest.

The nine-year-old was a high-class novice over hurdles and fences but failed to fire last season due to a sinus problem and has not been seen in action since pulling-up in the Stan James King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

'There are no definite plans yet but you can´t run unless you enter.

He summered well, he´s fine and we hope to be there,' Dartnall said.

'We put him in to give us the option and he won´t have a prep race beforehand.

'We´ll take it one race at a time this season.

He had a well-documented major sinus operation after the King George but it all seems OK now.' Paul Nicholls´ seven entries include last season´s runner-up Thisthatandtother, the exciting Kauto Star and My Will.

The Irish have not captured the prize since the Michael O´Brien-trained Bright Highway in 1980 but the handler could bid to repeat that success with Forget The Past this time round.

Brooklyn Breeze, winner of a handicap hurdle at Aintree last Saturday, is also prominent in the betting with Len Lungo´s charge a 10-1 chance.

Paddy Power Gold Cup, sponsors bet: 7-1 Our Vic, 8-1 Kauto Star, 10-1 Brooklyn Breeze, My Will 12-1 Celestial Gold, Contraband, Forget The Past, Lacdoudal, Monkerhostin, 14-1 Impek, Thisthatandtother, Watson Lake, 16-1 Kandjar D´Allier, Lord Sam, Ollie Magern, Quazar, Sir Oj, Therealbandit, Zeta´s River, 20-1 bar.

(C) PA Sport