Cheltenham ideas: Fugitive eager to retain December Gold Cup crown | Racing Information

The Weekend Winners workforce is again with a preview of an action-packed weekend at Prestbury Park.

Within the first a part of the present, the workforce discusses what they need for Saturday’s essential race – the Nyetimber December Gold Cup Handicap Chase.

Madora and Stage Star lead the market, with final yr’s winner Fugitive additionally within the combine alongside Ga Regulation, Grandeur d’Ame and Il Ridoto.

Host Kate Tracey…

“I took the facet Ga Regulation. I am fairly positive I took his facet final time when he completed second to Il Ridoto. Ga Regulation is such an exquisite horse and he is proper on the forefront of the traits provided that the horses which have gained the Paddy Energy do not have a unbelievable document in December – it is usually the horses behind these winners that stand out.

“The one pattern field he did not verify was the score, as a result of he will need to win with a really excessive score (156). The best bandwidth during the last six years was 132-134 or 141- 143, however the two anomalies have been properly famous, so I hope that one other one will probably be mounted prominently and it appears ultimate for that.

At Declan Rix’s grocery retailer…

“I’m with The Ridoto. I hope he can proceed with the 2 main handicaps at Cheltenham [having won ___ ]. It is going to be tougher for him, he is 8 kilos heavier within the rankings and can carry 13 kilos extra when it comes to bodily weight. He gained in sluggish movement on the final day – the race ended after three outs and he utterly ran away!

I feel Paul Nicholls has put in a fantastic exercise to assist him win the Paddy Energy and I hope he can come away in a barely higher race. Let’s go, Il Ridoto!

Sam Boswell of BetVictor…

“Fugitive was an eye-catcher within the paddock earlier than the Paddy Energy, he appears to be like like he is been stripped of that – he is an enormous horse and he is a very nice man. The one fear I might have is that this pitch drying out, I would not thoughts a bathe or two hitting Cheltenham!

“His document for the second time is sort of robust and I feel he ought to be the clear favourite. Sean Bowen is an excellent driver, there’s a lot to love however I would really like the bottom to be somewhat softer if he needed to go shorter.

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