Early betting news centres on the tussle for top jockey and trainer at the meeting, and it’s the in-form combo of Paddy Brennan and Nigel Twiston-Davies who have been the buzz; the pair are both 7-1 from 10s for their respective titles. Ruby Walsh is 4-7 to be top jock, while Paul Nicholls remains 1-2 to walk off with the trainers’ gong.
The action on the card has yet to warm up, but there’s activity in the 3.35 in which Paddy is paying on five places. This conditional jockeys’ handicap traditionally has more plots than Highgate Cemetery, and it’s the front two in the betting, Andytown, who is being held at the moment at a solid 5-1, and Lordsbridge, in a point to 6-1, who have commanded interest. Money has also been seen for Tamadot, 11-1 from 12s.
The Cross Country contest (just the 32 fences to jump this year, unless they start taking the wrong course again) is notable for the contrasting interest in JP’s pair, Garde Champetre and L’Ami. Garde Champetre, coming off a return over hurdles at Thurles three weeks ago, heads the market at 9-4, a price that probably can’t last much longer, with L’Ami not having many friends and is 3s from 11-4.
Some non-runners have come through. Tom Sawyer’s out of the first, while in the fifth Templer and Perpetuum have the afternoon off.
If you’re planning to come here tomorrow for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, the advice is to arrive early. For starters, Paddy is giving away a limited edition of this year’s new headgear, the Paddy Paddy Flat Cap, to the first 15,000 racegoers through the gates (the baseball cap is so last year, according to our man on the catwalk).
Also, the PP Travelwatch team warn of potential problems for anyone heading to Cheltenham from the south coming off the M4 at Jct 15 and heading north on the A419. The roadworks at the Turnpike Roundabout were a pickle last night and there are warning signs it’s going to get worse for the weekend as they are introducing a temporary road layout. Didn’t anyone tell them there’s a big race meeting on up the road?
And on to weightier matters, Paddy’s just popped back from the parade ring where he’s seen some Welsh bloke who used to be on One Man And His Dog trying to cajole 10 ducks around an obstacle course with the help of a Collie. Quackers, or what?

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