Ground Conditions Put Paid to Jagwar ´ S Cheltenham Bid

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


The prominent early-season contest had actually 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 positive ahead of the race the team will need to hold back running their JP McManus-owned gelding.


He was because of carry top-weight around Cheltenham and with the ground quickly weakening on Friday due to unrelenting rain, connections have actually chosen 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 because of the way the ground has actually gone, it was going to be really hard for him so we have actually chosen with Oliver and Josh that we'll wait on another day," stated Frank Berry, racing supervisor to McManus.


"It's a pity to miss out on the race, however it the best thing for the horse. It's no huge offer and he was all set to run, it's just the ground has actually opted for him.


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


Alan King, a fitness instructor who ten years ago struck with Annacotty, runs Es Perfecto in the same colours - a gelding who completed just 9 lengths behind Caldwell Potter when 5th at the Cheltenham Festival.


"This has actually been his target for a long time and his preparation has actually worked out. I'm happy enough with him," stated King.


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


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


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


Paul Nicholls may lack the aforementioned Caldwell Potter, however can contact defending champ Il Ridoto in search of a 5th win in the race, while Dan Skelton will saddle Anxiety attack, Hoe Joly Smoke and winner Riskintheground.


Meanwhile, Sam Thomas has his string in great kind and Vincenzo is tasked with striking while the iron is hot after some constant efficiencies last term.


Vincenzo represents the in-form Sam Thomas (Andrew Matthews/PA)


"He put in some excellent races last season and I 'd rather discover out where we remain in a top race than a regular race," said Thomas.


"And if he wins or runs well, we have those two-and-a-half-mile (races) at Cheltenham every conference 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 Showing up Easy and Theatre Native.


The previous of De Bromhead's duo has won his last three over the bigger challenges and arrives on the back of a specific Listed success at Killarney for Darragh O'Keeffe, while Theatre Native will have the support of champ jockey Sean Bowen.


Showing 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 stated: "They are 2 great horses, and both are in excellent form.


"Coming Up Easy has won his last 3 and did it perfectly at Killarney the last day.


"Theatre Native won well around there last year and she 'd a great 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 type which is excellent."


Bad shows up in leading form (Nigel French/PA)


The remainder of the field is made up 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 out if he's simply a Kempton professional or not. I think he's a different horse to the one I trained a couple of years ago," said Pauling.


"He ran very well in the Boodles (Fred Winter). I know he was nearly favourite and ended up being beaten 10 lengths but he struck the front plenty quickly enough that day.


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