Paddy Power Gold Cup: leading fancies and lively outsiders

Andy Stephens studies all the market leaders for the Paddy Power Gold Cup and suggests a couple of outsiders who could outrun their odds.

BLUEKING D’OROUX

Trainer: Dan Skelton. Rating: 148. Jump Index: 7.6. Odds: 6-1.

Dan Skelton has already done well with horses he has inherited from Paul Nicholls and Blueking D’Oroux is another intriguing recruit for him from Ditcheat.

The French-bred seven-year-old put up a career-best when chasing home Koktail Devin in the Grade One Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April, having made most of the running. The winner had previously run well when a non-staying fifth in the Brown Advisory.

A mark of 148 looks manageable, albeit he had not been able to exploit a mark of 141 on his penultimate start in a handicap at Kempton.

His jumping has been no issue and he seems well served by decent ground, although his lack of a recent run is worth considering given that he has been beaten first time out in three of his four campaigns.

Skelton’s Actual versus Expected at Cheltenham in the past year is a very healthy 1.38 (14 winners from 75 runners).

MADARA

Trainer: Dan Skelton. Rating: 152. Jump Index: 7.6. Odds: 6-1.

It was a case of “mission accomplished” for Madara when he landed the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He had been well touted for the race through the winter and those who sent him off 3-1 favourite had few anxious moments as he powered to an emphatic success.

The handicapper took exception, raising him 10lb, but that did not stop Madara going close to following up in the Topham, when he again jumped and travelled well.

He begins this campaign another 2lb higher, but that need not stop him putting up another bold show for the same team as last year's winner, Panic Attack, especially after a pleasing comeback run over hurdles at Carlisle a couple of weeks ago when he was considerately handled and minus the cheekpieces he wore in the spring.

That should have put him spot-on for his return to Cheltenham (seven runs at the track) and I’d imagine the headgear will be back on. His past three RaceiQ Jump Index scores at Cheltenham have been 7.9, 8.4 and 8.0. out of 10. An average score would be 6.8.

MEETMEBYTHESEA

Trainer: Ben Pauling. Rating: 151. Jump Index: 8.1 (was 6.9 over hurdles). Odds: 6-1.

Meetmebythesea has been beaten only twice in his eight races, when a close third in the EBF Final on his final start over hurdles and when dipping his toe into deeper waters in the Game Spirit Chase last season.

That Newbury race, needed for qualification to run at Cheltenham, was perhaps a means to an end as the JP McManus-owned six-year-old looked a different proposition when a commanding winner of the Jack Richards Handicap Chase the following month.

RaceiQ’s data backed up the visual impression he made that day. Meetmebythesea spent less time in the Jumping Envelope that any of his rivals (30 metres before and after the fence); entered each fence quicker than anything else (average 30.84mph); recovered best of all after each leap (average 0.55sec) plus boasted the Top Speed (36.39mph), Most Lengths Gained (13.59 lengths) and best Finishing Speed (106.56%).

It was a case of “Bingo” and the form has a glow. The second and third went on to dominate a Grade One contest at Aintree; the fourth has since won the Galway Plate; the fifth was going well when exiting in the closing stages of the Irish National; the sixth has since won a Grade Two Hurdle and even the eleventh has since finished runner-up in the Kerry National.

The negative for his connections is that the handicapper, having initially raised him 7lb, has upped that to 12lb. That’s understandable, though, and he has shown himself to be versatile regards the ground. Another positive is that he has won first time out in each of his two seasons, for all that those races have been nothing like so competitive as this.

Incidentally, Meetmebythesea’s Fstival success has been Ben Pauling’s only winner from 37 runners at he track in the last 12 months. His A/E is 0.37.

QUEBECOIS

Trainer: Paul Nicholls. Rating: 141. Jump Index: 8.0. Odds: 8-1.

Will line up as a novice, but he has already run two crackers at Cheltenham this year – losing out by a nose on Trials Day in January before being beaten about half a length into third in the Ultima in March.

He looked sure to lose his maiden status on his return at Newton Abbot but a rare hesitant jump at the final fence proved costly. That’s the fifth time in a year he’s traded odds-on in-running (1.03) and been beaten, but there looks nothing wrong with his attitude.

And there is nothing wrong with his jumping as he’s jumped best in six of his seven starts over fences; gaining 19 lengths in the air at the Festival in March 

His connections cannot seem to make their mind up about his trip - a tilt at the Scottish Grand National on heavy ground backfired in April – but he does not seem short of gears.

Like Pauling, Nicholls has had a lean time at Cheltenham in the past 12 months, claiming one winner from 26 runners, with his A/E being 0.38.

Join Racing TV for FREE!

Click here to start your free one-month trial!

Watch over 100 live race meetings for FREE! Start your free one-month trial of Racing TV.

ZURICH

Trainer: Henry De Bromhead. Rating: 138. Jump Index: 7.2. Odds: 16-1.

Zurich had no excuses when fifth to Madara in the Plate in March (beaten 14 lengths) and he’s only 8lb better off, having subsequently gone close at Haydock.

On the plus side, he has upped his game in the jumping department at Cheltenham, getting scores of 8.1 and 8.0 on his two visits, and unlike several of these, has got in a pipe opener, running as if in need of the run at Limerick last month when fading to be fifth.

Henry De Bromhead’s A/E at Cheltenham is 1.32 (four winners from 38).

THREE INTERESTING OUTSIDERS

JULY FLOWER

Trainer: Henry De Bromhead. Rating: 142. Jump Index: 7.7. Odds: 20-1.

July Flower looked one to follow when landing the Grade Two 2m novices’ chase at this meeting last year and her final run of the season.

Her next two starts were underwhelming, but hr final effort when a non-staying fourth in a 3m 1f Grade One at Punchestown suggests she is not one to be giving up on. 

She has some unfinished business switching to handicap ranks off a mark in the low 140s for her powerful yard.

NORN IRON

Trainer: Harry Derham. Rating: 137. Jump Index: 7.7. Odds: 25-1.

Non Iron progressed well last season, winning two handicap chases at Sandown in the second half of the campaign before going close in a Listed handicap chase at Punchestown won by Funiculi Funicula (one of eight Willie Mullins-trained runners in the race).

He’s 13lb higher than when last successful but he’s lightly raced for an eight-year-old and there could still be more to come.

RaceiQ's top ten jumpers over fences 

Click here for more. Details correct up to November 8, 2026

RaceiQ's top ten jumpers over hurdles 

Click here for more. Details correct up to November 8, 2026

Racing TV encourages responsible gambling - to find out more click here to head to our dedicated website page.