Kauto Star Heads Paddy Power Gold Cup Weights Kauto Star (11st 12lb) heads the weights - revealed today, Wednesday, November 1 - for the #110,000 Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup, which takes place on day two of the three-day Open meeting at Cheltenham on Saturday, November 11.The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old, winner of the Grade One Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown last term before falling at the third fence in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at The Festival, made a victorious return to action over two and a half miles in the Grade Two Old Roan Chase at Aintree on October 22. Kauto Star defeated stablemate Armaturk (10st 7lb) into second place at Aintree and the latter could reoppose in the prestigious two and a half mile handicap chase, for which Paddy Power rate him a 4/1 chance 'with a run'.Nicholls could hold a strong hand with the promising Taranis, unbeaten in three completed starts over fences and the 9/2 favourite with the sponsors, allotted 10st 2lb, and last season's useful novice Cerium on 9st 11lb.David Pipe will be hoping to continue the great success enjoyed by his recently retired father, Martin Pipe, who won the Paddy Power Gold Cup a record eight times (including seven of the last 10 renewals). Pipe could run last year's winner Our Vic (11st 10lb) who scored an impressive victory on his seasonal bow in the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase over three miles and a furlong at Wetherby on October 28.The Pond House trainer's team could also include Therealbandit (10st 5lb), Contraband (10st 5lb), Tamarinbleu (10st), Bannow Strand (9st 3lb) and Vodka Bleu (9st 1lb). Bright Highway, successful in 1980, was the last Irish-trained winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup and that horse's trainer, Michael O'Brien, could spearhead a competitive Irish challenge with last season's classy novice In Compliance (10st 3lb), who is owned by Sean Mulryan. Ireland's champion trainer Noel Meade has three live contenders in the shapes of Watson Lake (10st 11lb), who chased home totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition on his seasonal reappearance at Punchestown on October 19, Wild Passion (10st 5lb), and 2005 Boylesports.com Gold Cup hero Sir Oj (10st 5lb). Fellow Irishman Robert Tyner could saddle Slim Pickings (9st 11lb).The J P McManus-owned Reveillez, the 6/1 second-favourite with Paddy Power, landed the two mile, five furlong Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase at The Festival in March, and is allotted 9st 12lb.Cheltenham regular Fondmort (10st 10lb), trained by Nicky Henderson, was successful in the 2003 running of the Paddy Power Gold Cup and landed the Ryanair Chase at The Festival in March. Henderson could also run Mariah Rollins (9st 11lb), Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase runner-up Copsale Lad (9st 10lb) and Crozan (9st 13lb).Other interesting contenders include recent Wetherby winner Too Forward (10st), exciting Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained prospect Knowhere (9st 5lb), the Charles Egerton-trained pair Graphic Approach (9st 6lb) and Rubberdubber (9st 4lb), Chilling Place (9st 6lb), unlucky when brought down in yesterday's William Hill Gold Cup at Exeter in which Ground Ball (9st 9lb) finished runner-up, Hand Inn Hand (9st 10lb), Mister McGoldrick (10st 9lb), Billyvoddan (9st 7lb) and Exotic Dancer (9st 6lb).Latest Paddy Power PricesTaranis 9/2 Reveillez 6/1 Commercial Flyer 8/1 Too Forward 10/1 Copsale Lad 12/1 Kandjar D´Allier 12/1 In Compliance 14/1 Vodka Bleu 14/1 Contraband 14/1 Tamarinbleu 14/1 Wild Passion 16/1 Exotic Dancer 16/1 Knowhere 16/1 Tumbling Dice 16/1 Garde Champetre 16/1 Fondmort 16/1 Sir Oj 16/1 Chilling Place 16/1 Graphic Approach 20/1 Watson Lake 20/1 Crozan 20/1 Rubberdubber 20/1 Madison Du Berlais 20/1 Cerium 20/1 Mariah Rollins 20/1 Hand Inn Hand 20/1 Ground Ball 20/1 Billyvoddan 20/1 Kelrev 20/1 Bannow Strand 20/1 Kings Brook 25/1 Armaturk 25/1 New Alco 25/1 Oh Be The Hokey 25/1 Therealbandit 33/1 Claymore 33/1 Oodachee 33/1 Kasthari 33/1 Mister McGoldrick 33/1 Nayodabayo 33/1 Ball O Malt 33/1 Tighe Caster 33/1 Mr Boo 33/1 Slim Pickings 33/1 Zum See 33/1 Dix Villez 33/1 Roman Ark 40/1 Big Rob 40/1 Butler´s Cabin 40/1 Randwick Roar 50/1 Flying Spirit 66/1 Calatagan 66/1 Another Joker 66/1 SPECIAL BETS 4/1 Kauto Star (With a run) 8/1 Our Vic (With a run)
