Weights revealed for Paddy Power Gold Cup

This year’s Open at Cheltenham moves a step closer today with the unveiling of the weights for the £150,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.35pm), highlight of Saturday, November 12, and the £100,000 Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (2.20pm), which takes centre stage on Sunday, November 13.

The weights for the Paddy Power Gold Cup are headed for a second consecutive year by Poquelin (11st 12lb), who was fifth behind Little Josh 12 months ago prior to posting a pair of victories at Cheltenham in the Grade Three December Gold Cup and the Grade Two Masterson Holdings Trophy Chase.

The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old is rated a 25/1 chance by Paddy Power as he bids to become the first horse to carry top-weight to victory in the two and a half-mile contest since Cyfor Malta triumphed for a second time in 2002.

Nicholls is also responsible for Mon Parrain, who heads the market with Paddy Power at 11/2 following an impressive first season in Britain last term that included a facile Sandown handicap chase victory in March. The progressive five-year-old, who warmed up for his major autumn target by working after racing at Exeter racecourse yesterday, has been allotted 10st 8lb

Kieran Burke, who saddled a winner with his very first runner on the same Exeter card since taking over from Pat Rodford, is looking forward to seeing Holmwood Legend (20/1 & 10st 3lb) return to Cheltenham for the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

As a jockey, Burke enjoyed the biggest success of his career when he partnered Holmwood Legend to a storming victory in the Grade Three Byrne Group Plate over two miles and five furlongs at The Festival in March.

The pair returned to Cheltenham the following month and ran another excellent race in defeat over the same course and distance when going down by half a length to Poquelin in the Masterson Holdings Trophy Chase, despite racing from 10lb out of the limited handicap.

Burke commented: “Holmwood Legend is definitely on course for the Paddy Power Gold Cup. He improved more than any of us expected last season and we thought that his final run of the season behind Poquelin was better than his victory at The Festival.

“He was very impressive that day and he obviously loves racing at Cheltenham. We are hoping to try and go back there as often as possible this season, and I hope that he could also line up in the December Gold Cup

“Ideally, we would like goodish ground for him - he has won on soft before but that was when his handicap mark was very low.

“He is 10 years old and we did very well with him last season. I know that I have a very tough task to keep improving him after such a rise in the weights but he loves Cheltenham and I am looking forward to seeing him back in action.”

Other notable contenders for the Paddy Power Gold Cup include Noble Prince (14/1 & 11st 2lb), from the Irish stable of Paul Nolan, the Philip Hobbs-trained Wishfull Thinking (15/2 & 11st 6lb), and the Henry de Bromhead-trained Loosen My Load (16/1 & 10st 9lb), who finished first, second and third respectively in the Grade Two Jewson Novices’ Chase at The Festival in March.

Great Endeavour (12/1 & 10st 3lb), successful in the 2010 Byrne Group Plate, may line up for David Pipe, while the Ferdy Murphy-trained Divers (12/1 & 9st 9lb), victorious in the Listed Centenary Novices’ Handicap Chase at this year’s Festival, could bid to bounce back from a disappointing seasonal return at Carlisle on Sunday.

Paddy Power Gold Cup - Paddy Power bet:

each-way 1/4 odds, 4 places