Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase 2010

2.35 Cheltenham
Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase (Grade 3 Handicap) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner £85,515 - 19 run

Picks: Mad Max & Catch Me (both each/way)

Poquelin: Second in this last year; has risen 14lbs since but deservedly so with 7 length romp in the Boylesports.com handicap chase, and a second in the Ryanair (disappointing in Melling Chase); Proved still very effective off this weight when a close second to Monet’s Garden in the Old Roan and not out of it off top weight, especially taking into account that he will be fit and ready to run.

Long Run: Went to Britain with plenty of experience from France, and high quality experience at that as winner of three of his four starts over fences (impressive success in the Grade 1 Prix Maurice Gillois); Hacked up by 13 lengths from next time out winner Tazbar in Feltham Chase, and did same again when easy winner of Kingmaker Novices’ Chase; Made significant jumping errors on both wins and unable to get away with them when fading late on in RSA; Looks set for big season and will be winning this if he’s to be taking Grade 1 races.

Mad Max; Giant horse who made waves over hurdles when only beaten in Ballymore Hurdle; Was always going to make up into a better chaser, and made a great start when giving a sound beating to some good horses; Disappointing when beaten into third but proved he wants better ground a lot when running a big race in the Arkle, and excelled himself to finish fourth considering he made massive mistake four out; Put that right when slamming a below – par Somersby at Aintree last time out and should run a big race here.

Thico Polos: Showed a lot of promise last year in decent Novice Chases, (looked very tired when falling after running well for a long way in the Feltham & Second to Punchestowns & French Opera after that); Ran great race to win Haldon Gold Cup 11 days ago although this is much tougher test and penalty, going left-handed and stamina are worries.

Fingeronthepulse: Won Jewson at 2008 Cheltenham Festival and emerged from doldrums to land Galway Plate in July; Lost nothing In defeat when third in Kerry National and should be spot on for this but handicapped also to Career high mark.

Gwanako: Ran only four times last season, but showed promise on all of those runs, making good headway coming to the business end of the Byrne Group Plate; was still in contention for minor honours when falling two out behind Edgbriar over C&D and bold show can’t be ruled out.

Little Josh: Jumped better than most of his previous starts when dead heating with very promising Weird Al at Carlisle; That bare form made him interesting but he tied up very late (four lengths infront) and was getting 6lbs from Weird Al; Bold show possible but others preferred.

The Sawyer: Bold front-runner who has won two renewals of similar contest run here in January but has never won before Christmas (6 out of eight wins in January); 12lbs higher than last winning mark, and competition for lead.

Can’t Buy Time: Capable and fairly handicapped if the cards fall right (Only 6lbs higher than when winning similar course race four starts ago); Would like a strongly run race but worry about jumping holding under pressure here.

Edgebriar: howed a good attitude when winning over course and distance last month in very similar contest and will improve for that (had never previously won on seasonal debut); 8lbs higher in stronger race but has only had 8 starts, so capacity to improve.

Catch Me: One of star Irish Hurdlers 2 seasons ago and looks to have taken to chasing (looked for all the world the winner until falling at the last on his second fencing race);Disappointed as favourite in Hatton’s Grace but still has a lot of promise over fences, as shown when only just beaten by Pandorama and Weapon’s Amnesty last Christmas; That form is extremely strong and entitled to massive respect off 143 considering that he was 160 over hurdles and that Weapons’ Amnesty and Pandorama are both Grade 1 winners; Trip should suit too (always best over hurdles at this distance).

Dancing Tornando: Kerry National runner-up who filled the same position in handicap hurdle over two and a half miles last time, but jumping has been a worry (check penultimate start) and will be tested massively here.

Great Endeavour: Only his fourth run over fences and ninth of his career when landing the Byrne Group Plate at the Festival; Up 7lbs in a much better race here but open to any amount of improvement and represents a yard (though not trainer) that has provided seven of last fourteen winners.

Sunnyhillboy: Lightly raced, progressive and simply had too much to do when second behind Great Endeavour in the Bryne Group Plate at the Festival( is 2lb better off for 1 ¼ lengths); Will need to travel and jump much better in this but every chance in open race and case can be made that he shouldn’t be 7 points bigger than Great Endeavour.

Passato: Revelation for his small yard over the summer but is now 36lbs higher than for that first win in May; Never really going over C&D last time and although badly hampered 2 out, he no chance at time, so not likely to be winning.

Awesome George: Didn’t make progress expected as a novice last season, but stable in much better form now and made good fist of things at Aintree (would have made a race of things on level weights with winner); That said, needs to improve plenty.

Door Boy: Won first two starts over fences, getting the better of Little Josh and Cappa Bleu at Aintree before winning comfortably giving away weight against vastly inferior opposition; Looked well beaten when falling in Jewson Novice’s Chase and while case can be made on some form, jumping cracked in Jewson; Still open to improvement but really needs it.

Gonebyondrecall: Made major improvement of late for headgear p Killarney maiden win in a handicap at Listowel in September; Disappointing when stepped up in grade last time and hard to make a strong case for him here.

Pigeon Island: Came hard and late to win Grand Annual here last season at the festival but hammered off new mark at Aintree and didn’t look any better when well beaten on return; Headgear should do the trick as for keeping him concentrated and jumping, but up against it in a major way.

VERDICT: Another top class renewal of a race that has produced numerous high class horses such as Imperial Commander, Exotic Dancer, Our Vic, Celestial Gold, Fondmort and Cyfor Malta. The horse in this year’s contest that fits that profile is the outstandingly promising Long Run, who defied jumping errors to hack up over 3 miles and 2 miles in graded company before being unable to get away with it in the RSA Chase. He’s outstandingly handicapped today and will be winning this if he’s going to be taking Grade 1 races this season, over a trip he should like. The reason why he’s not the pick is because he’s made serious mistakes on every start in the UK, and won’t be allowed to here. Great Endeavour is widely tipped to beat Long Run but he’s in a much better race with a 7lbs higher mark and will have it tougher today, as well as the fact that he’s not a certainty to confirm form with Sunnyhillboy. Both should go close but this will be harder for them. There haven't been as many second season chasers as good as MAD MAX than can get into this off 11-5 and with Barry Geraghty on board he must have a very solid chance here, following off from 2 really promising runs in good races last year. Another second season novice who has got in lightly here is CATCH ME, who is entitled to massive respect off 143 considering that he was 160 over hurdles, Weapons’ Amnesty and Pandorama are both Grade 1 winners, this is his trip and Tranquil Sea (raced at lower level over hurdles and fences) was rated 148 coming into this last year. Others to note are Poquelin who loves the course and distance and ran a screamer when second to Monet’s Garden on his return, Thico Polos, who made an impressive reappearance in winning the Haldon Gold Cup, and Edgebriar, who has won a very similar sort of race recently.