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 masterpiece, being stated a non-runner due to ground conditions.


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


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


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


"It is since of the way the ground has gone, it was going to be extremely difficult for him so we have actually chosen with Oliver and Josh that we'll wait for another day," stated Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus.


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


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


Alan King, a trainer who ten years ago struck with Annacotty, runs Es Perfecto in the exact 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 some time and his preparation has actually gone well. I enjoy enough with him," stated King.


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


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


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


Paul Nicholls might lack the abovementioned Caldwell Potter, however can contact protecting 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 type and Vincenzo is entrusted with striking while the iron is hot after some consistent efficiencies 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 remain in a top 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 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 previous of De Bromhead's duo has actually won his last 3 over the larger barriers and gets here on the back of a precise Listed success at Killarney for O'Keeffe, while Theatre Native will have the support 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 said: "They are two good horses, and both remain in excellent kind.


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


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


"We were delighted to get Sean to ride Theatre Native and we have 2 jockeys in form which is fantastic."


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


The remainder 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 professional or not. I believe he's a different horse to the one I trained a couple of years ago," said Pauling.


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


"We will discover however if he's versatile enough to manage any track, he's going there in excellent order and he must be competitive."