Ground Conditions Put Paid to Jagwar ´ S Cheltenham Bid

Ante-post Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase favourite Jagwar has actually been ruled out of Saturday's Cheltenham masterpiece, being stated a non-runner due to ground conditions.


The distinguished early-season contest had been a long-held prepare for the training team Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero because landing the Plate with ease at the Cheltenham Festival, and although confident ahead of the race the group will have to hold off running their JP McManus-owned gelding.


He was due to bring top-weight around Cheltenham and with the ground quickly deteriorating on Friday due to unrelenting rain, connections have actually chosen to keep their powder dry with the six-year-old.


It was a dismal scene at Cheltenham at the close of racing on Friday (David Davies for The Jockey Club)


"It is because of the way the ground has gone, it was going to be really hard for him so we have actually decided with Oliver and Josh that we'll wait on another day," said Frank Berry, racing supervisor to McManus.


"It's a pity to miss the race, but it the very best thing for the horse. It's no big offer and he was prepared to run, it's just the ground has opted for him.


"We'll be taking a look at all the alternative races for him now as he is really well and was prepared to go."


Alan King, a fitness instructor who ten years ago struck with Annacotty, runs Es Perfecto in the very same colours - a gelding who completed only 9 lengths behind Caldwell Potter when 5th at the Cheltenham Festival.


"This has been his target for a long time and his preparation has actually worked out. I'm happy enough with him," said King.


Trainer Alan King is looking for another Paddy Power Gold Cup win (David Davies/PA)


"He ran really well at the Festival - he only got run out of the places in the last 50 backyards.


"He's all set to draw back and we'll see how we go."


Paul Nicholls might be without the abovementioned Caldwell Potter, but can call on protecting champ Il Ridoto searching for a 5th win in the race, while Dan Skelton will saddle Panic Attack, Hoe Joly Smoke and Newton Abbot winner Riskintheground.


Meanwhile, Sam Thomas has his string in great type and Vincenzo is entrusted with striking while the iron is hot after some last term.


Vincenzo represents the in-form Sam Thomas (Andrew Matthews/PA)


"He put in some terrific races last season and I 'd rather find out where we are in a top race than a normal race," stated Thomas.


"And if he wins or runs well, we have those two-and-a-half-mile (races) at Cheltenham every meeting near enough, so that would the obvious thing to do with him."


There is a strong Irish hand with Gavin Cromwell bringing over both Thecompanysergeant and The Other Mozzie, Paul Nolan runs Conyers Hill and Henry de Bromhead is double-handed with Coming Up Easy and Theatre Native.


The former of De Bromhead's duo has won his last three over the bigger challenges and arrives on the back of a well-defined Listed success at Killarney for Darragh O'Keeffe, while Theatre Native will have the assistance of champion jockey Sean Bowen.


Turning up Easy and Jordan Gainford take Listed honours in the O'Donoghue Ring Collection Handicap Chase Henry de Bromhead can do no incorrect pic.twitter.com/g99UcNmj7K


- KillarneyRaces (@KillarneyRaces) August 23, 2025


De Bromhead stated: "They are two great horses, and both remain in good type.


"Turning up Easy has won his last 3 and did it well at Killarney the last day.


"Theatre Native won well around there last year and she had actually a nice first run back in Limerick, so hopefully she will step forward from that.


"We were pleased to get Sean to ride Theatre Native and we have two jockeys in kind which is great."


Bad arrives in leading kind (Nigel French/PA)


The remainder of the field is made up of Venetia Williams' Hunter Legend, Gary and Josh Moore's Issar d'Airy and Ben Pauling's Bad, who tuned up for this with a win at Kempton last month.


"We'll discover out if he's simply a Kempton specialist or not. I believe he's a various horse to the one I trained a couple of years back," stated Pauling.


"He ran very well in the Boodles (Fred Winter). I understand he was nearly favourite and wound up being beaten 10 lengths however he hit the front plenty soon enough that day.


"We will discover but if he's versatile enough to manage any track, he's going there in great order and he need to be competitive."