Ground Conditions Put Paid to Jagwar ´ S Cheltenham Bid

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


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


He was because of bring top-weight around Cheltenham and with the ground rapidly degrading on Friday due to relentless rain, connections have decided to keep their powder dry with the six-year-old.


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


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


"It's a pity to miss the race, however it the very best thing for the horse. It's no big deal and he was ready to run, it's just the ground has actually chosen him.


"We'll be looking at all the alternative races for him now as he is effectively and was all set to go."


Alan King, a fitness instructor who ten years ago struck with Annacotty, runs Es Perfecto in the same colours - a gelding who ended up 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 gone well. I'm happy enough with him," stated King.


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


"He ran effectively at the Festival - he just got lacked the places in the last 50 lawns.


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


Paul Nicholls may be without the abovementioned Caldwell Potter, but can contact safeguarding champion Il Ridoto looking 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 fine form and Vincenzo is tasked with striking while the iron is hot after some constant performances last term.


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


"He put in some fantastic races last season and I 'd rather learn where we remain in a leading race than a regular race," said Thomas.


"And if he wins or runs well, we have those two-and-a-half-mile (races) at Cheltenham every conference 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 and Henry de Bromhead is double-handed with Turning up Easy and Theatre Native.


The previous of De Bromhead's duo has won his last 3 over the bigger obstacles and gets here on the back of a precise Listed success at Killarney for Darragh O'Keeffe, while Theatre Native will have the help of champ jockey Sean Bowen.


Showing 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 2 good horses, and both are in great form.


"Showing up Easy has actually won his last 3 and did it nicely at Killarney the last day.


"Theatre Native won well around there in 2015 and she 'd a nice first run back in Limerick, so hopefully she will step forward from that.


"We were happy to get Sean to ride Theatre Native and we have 2 jockeys in kind which is terrific."


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 if he's just a Kempton specialist or not. I believe he's a various horse to the one I trained a couple of years back," said Pauling.


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


"We will find out but if he's flexible enough to deal with any track, he's going there in excellent order and he should be competitive."