Ground Conditions Put Paid to Jagwar ´ S Cheltenham Bid

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


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


He was because of bring top-weight around Cheltenham and with the ground quickly deteriorating 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 really tough for him so we've decided 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 finest thing for the horse. It's no huge offer and he was ready to run, it's simply the ground has opted for him.


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


Alan King, a fitness instructor who 10 years ago struck with Annacotty, runs Es Perfecto in the exact same colours - a gelding who completed only 9 lengths behind Caldwell Potter when fifth at the Cheltenham Festival.


"This has actually been his target for a long time and his preparation has actually gone well. I enjoy enough with him," said King.


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


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


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


Paul Nicholls may lack the previously mentioned Caldwell Potter, however can get in touch with protecting champ Il Ridoto in search of 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 kind 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 excellent races last season and I 'd rather find out where we are in a leading race than an ordinary 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 apparent 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 actually won his last three over the bigger challenges and gets here on the back of a well-defined Listed success at Killarney for Darragh O'Keeffe, while Theatre Native will have the support of champ 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 said: "They are 2 nice horses, and both are in good form.


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


"Theatre Native won well around there in 2015 and she had actually a good very first run back in Limerick, so hopefully she will advance from that.


"We were happy to get Sean to Native and we have 2 jockeys in form which is great."


Bad gets here in top kind (Nigel French/PA)


The rest of the field is comprised 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 expert or not. I think he's a various horse to the one I trained a number of years earlier," stated Pauling.


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


"We will discover however if he's flexible enough to handle any track, he's going there in great order and he must be competitive."