Rainbow heads Paddy Power weights

Finian's Rainbow heads the weights for the £160,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup, the highlight of The Open at Cheltenham on Saturday, November 16th.

The 10-year-old won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at The Festival in 2012 and is one of seven entries for champion trainer Nicky Henderson. Among the septet is Grade One-winning novice Captain Conan, Rajdhani Express, winner of the Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase at The Festival in March, and last year's third Nadiya De La Vega.

Dynaste enjoyed a fantastic first season over fences, the highlight being an impressive nine-length success in the Grade One Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, and has been allotted 11st 8lb. David Pipe's grey is the 5/1 favourite with Paddy Power, but missed his intended reappearance at Wetherby on Saturday, November 2.

Pipe could also be represented by the Allan Stennett-owned pair of Ballynagour, a well-beaten eighth when favourite for the Byrne Group Plate at The Festival, and Salut Flo, who has not been seen since landing the corresponding race in 2012.

Trainer Steve Gollings is considering running Conquisto in the prestigious contest following a gallant length and a quarter victory over Astracad in the Grade Two Betfred Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase at Aintree on October 26.

The eight-year-old took well to chasing last season and has made the frame in all eight of his starts over fences. He was in fine form during the spring, annexing a two-mile Listed Handicap Chase at Ayr on April 20, and placing in valuable handicap chases either side of that at Ascot and Haydock Park.

Gollings revealed: "Conquisto has come out of the Old Roan 100 per cent and I could not be happier with him.

"He is in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but nothing is certain yet. We will assess the race at the next stage and take it from there, but other possibilities include the Amlin Chase at Ascot and the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon. It's exciting stuff.

"He went up four pounds for winning at Aintree and I don't know if it is a guilt thing with the handicapper, but he has been badly treated in the past and maybe it is evening itself out now.

"Conquisto still seems to be improving and I have said many times before that he lacks a bit of size, but he doesn't think he is small and is a tremendous horse to train. For his diminutive size, he has so much scope but, for any horse of that stature, it is that much more difficult.

"He is a real tough, genuine horse and I don't think we would be able to replace him. I think if he was a hand bigger, he would be a world beater."

Other notable contenders include the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Johns Spirit, who scored impressively at The Showcase, recent Down Royal Grade Two victor Rolling Aces from the stable of last year's winning trainer Paul Nicholls and Martin Keighley's course winner Champion Court.

The Irish challenge is led by Benefficient, who landed the Grade Two Jewson Novices' Chase at The Festival in March and reappeared this season when fourth in the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday, November 2 and the Shark Hanlon-trained Hidden Cyclone.

Willie Mullins has four entries - Marito, Terminal, Rupert Lamb and Sweet My Lord.

The five-day confirmation stage for the Paddy Power Gold Cup is on Monday, November 11. The maximum field size is 20, with 49 entries going forward at the moment.