Fondmort Tops 28 In Paddy Power Gold Cup At Five-Day Stage

Fondmort heads 28 horses remaining in the Grade Three #110,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.40pm), run at Cheltenham on Saturday, November 11, at today's confirmation stage.

The Nicky Henderson-trained 10-year-old, who carried 10st 13lb when landing the 2003 renewal under Mick Fitzgerald, will have to defy 11st 12lb this year if he is to record a second victory in the extended two and a half mile contest, with the weights going up by 16lb.

Mariah Rollins, eighth in last year's race for Pat Fahy, and last season's useful novice Copsale Lad have also been left in by Henderson.

David Pipe is bidding to follow in the footsteps of his father Martin, successful eight times in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, and he has six contenders including Therealbandit, 13th behind stable companion Our Vic a year ago, and Contraband, whose finest hour came at Cheltenham in the 2005 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy.

Tamarinbleu, Commercial Flyer, Bannow Strand and Vodka Bleu complete the Pipe team.

Champion jump trainer Paul Nicholls is responsible for the 4/1 ante-post favourite Taranis, Nigel Twiston-Davies has been firing in the winners of late and is represented by Knowhere, who has landed both novice chase starts this season, while Carl Llewellyn relies on recent impressive Wetherby scorer Too Forward in the Order of Merit contest.

There are four Irish-trained possibles in the shape of In Compliance, victorious on his reappearance in a Grade Three event at Down Royal on November 4, Sir Oj, winner of the recently-renamed Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham in December, Ground Ball, second to Impek in the William Hill Gold Cup Chase at Exeter on October 31, and Tumbling Dice, runner-up to Justified on his return to action at Limerick last month.

Other interesting contenders include Alan King's Kandjar D'Allier, an excellent third in the race 12 months ago, the Philip Hobbs-trained Chilling Place, who was badly hampered on his last start when unseating his rider in the William Hill Gold Cup Chase at Exeter, and Graphic Approach, trained by Charles Egerton, a good third to Non So in the Racing Post Plate at The Festival in March.

A total of 19 high-class chasers remain in the Grade Three #60,000 Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase (3.45pm), run over three miles and three and a half furlongs on Saturday, November 11, including last season's classy novice Idle Talk, who missed his intended reappearance at Wincanton due to unsuitably quick ground.

The Tom George-trained seven-year-old, who also has an entry in the #25,000 Jersey Graduation Chase (2.10pm) the following day over three furlongs less, ran an excellent second to Star De Mohaison in the Grade One Royal & SunAlliance Chase at The Festival in March, and wound up last season with a highly creditable fourth to Run For Paddy in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr in April.

George said today: 'The plan is to run Idle Talk at The Open meeting, although which race he will contest is still undecided. We want to run him but we are looking for good ground.

'I am delighted with him at present and he has really strengthened up since last season. I'm thrilled with how he has been working, he looks to be progressive, and he's in very good from.

'He's pretty fit and has done plenty of work, and he's in good enough shape to run a big race whichever contest he goes for, although he's a young horse and will get better as the season progresses.

'The Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury is a possible target as is the Welsh National at Chepstow, but we've got loads of options with him.'

Opponents in the Servo Computer Services Trophy Chase could number Betfred Gold Cup hero Lacdoudal, top level regular Take The Stand and Sir Rembrandt, twice placed in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Another exciting contest on Saturday, November 11 is the #50,000 Listed Lombard Properties Handicap Hurdle (3.10pm), run over three miles and one and a half furlongs.

The 31 entries include Redemption, who landed the Grade Two John Smith's Hurdle at Wetherby on his return last month, Eric McNamara's French Grade One hero Strangely Brown and Lough Derg, trained by David Pipe, whose father Martin Pipe sent out Standin Obligation to score last year.