Jack Scrapes In To Power

Ante-post favourite Granit Jack has just made the cut for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham tomorrow.

The Paul Nicholls-trained grey got in by the skin of his teeth as number 20 after a maximum field was declared for the valuable handicap chase.

Abragante, however, failed by four despite a 6lb penalty for a recent Wincanton success. His trainer David Pipe will still be represented by last year's runner-up Vodka Bleu.

Nicholls helped the Granit Jack cause by withdrawing Le Volfoni and New Little Bric.

Granit Jack leapt to the head of the betting market on Thursday after Don't Push It was ruled out through injury. His trainer Jonjo O'Neill now relies on Bob Hall.

The weights are headed by Billyvoddan, whose trainer Henry Daly also saddles Palarshan while dual Cheltenham Festival winner Idole First bids for more Prestbury Park glory.

Ferdy Murphy is double-handed with L'Antartique and Three Mirrors as are Nicky Henderson, who runs Crozan and Copsale Lad, and Nigel Twiston-Davies through Knowhere and Patman Du Charmil.

Other horses taken out at the final declaration stage were L'Ami, Forget The Past, Knight Legend, Arteea and Roman Ark.

Abragante's owner David Johnson felt it was inevitable his horse would fail to get in the race.

'He was always going to miss the cut. He was never going to get in to be honest. That's life,' he said.

'We have to think about the Hennessy really. It might be a blessing in disguise.'

Johnson's colours will still be carried in the Grade Three feature by Vodka Bleu.

'He ran a great race last year but after that it was a bit downhill for him,' he added.

'He's fit and well and I'm pleased to have a runner in the race. We'll keep our fingers crossed.'

Vodka Bleu is 8-1 with the sponsors, who make Granit Jack their 4-1 favourite.

Both of Murphy's runners have had the benefit of a run this autumn.

'L'Antartique has been really good since his race at Carlisle. We've been very happy with him and everything's gone well,' he said.

'He seemed to handle the hurly burly of the Festival (when winning the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase) all right.

'It will probably be more testing for him tomorrow but then again he's had another run under his belt, which will help.'

The West Witton trainer decided to re-route Three Mirrors from Sunday's paddypower.com Handicap Chase after top-weight and two-mile Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Voy Por Ustedes stood his ground.

'We were aiming him at the Boylesports next month and were going to run him in the two-miler on Sunday, but with Voy Por Ustedes staying in there, we were too far down the handicap,' he added.

'We thought we'd let him take his chance in the Paddy Power and get some experience into him.

'He's a very good horse in his own right and he's entitled to an entry.' he added.

Daly's two runners are both having their first runs of the season.

Billyvoddan has not been seen since pulling up in the Grand National, while Palarshan has been off the course since finishing second in the Racing Post Plate at the Festival.

'I'm happy with Billyvoddan. OK, it's a lot of weight and things, but we've got to start off somewhere and he did run well in the Ryanair (third to Taranis),' Daly said.

'Palarshan ran well first time out last year at the Festival. If he can repeat that sort of run I'd be very pleased,' he continued.

'They should both run well. It's just the age-old question if they're good enough.'

Noel Meade sends over Ballyagran, second in the Galway Plate back in August.

'He likes good ground. He ran well in the Kerry National but he made a mistake, which kind of knocked him out of it,' said Meade.

'He ran too free in the Munster National. Paul (Carberry) jumped him off quick and he was running too free with him the whole way. That was why he was slightly disappointing the last day.

'He's in very good form but it's a very competitive race.

'I'm not worried about coming back in trip because it will take a bit of getting as they'll go flat out.'

Paddy Power Gold Cup, sponsors bet: 4-1 Granit Jack, 9-2 L'Antartique, 8-1 Copsale Lad, Vodka Bleu, 9-1 Bob Hall, 12-1 Crozan, Knowhere, Private Be, 16-1 Idole First, 20-1 Palarshan, Ponmeoath, 25-1 Three Mirrors, 33-1 bar.

(C) PA Sport