Ground Conditions Put Paid to Jagwar ´ S Cheltenham Bid

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


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


He was because of bring top-weight around Cheltenham and with the ground rapidly degrading on Friday due to relentless rain, connections have 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 really hard for him so we have actually chosen with Oliver and Josh that we'll await another day," Berry, racing manager to McManus.


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


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


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


"This has actually been his target for some time and his preparation has 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 only got lacked the locations in the last 50 yards.


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


Paul Nicholls might be without the abovementioned Caldwell Potter, but can call on defending champ Il Ridoto searching for a fifth 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 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 learn 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 Showing up Easy and Theatre Native.


The former of De Bromhead's duo has won his last three over the bigger obstacles and shows up on the back of a specific Listed success at Killarney for Darragh O'Keeffe, while Theatre Native will have the assistance 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 wrong pic.twitter.com/g99UcNmj7K


- KillarneyRaces (@KillarneyRaces) August 23, 2025


De Bromhead said: "They are 2 great horses, and both remain in great kind.


"Turning 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 had actually a nice very first run back in Limerick, so hopefully she will step forward from that.


"We were thrilled to get Sean to ride Theatre Native and we have 2 jockeys in type which is great."


Bad gets here in top form (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 believe he's a various horse to the one I trained a number of years back," stated Pauling.


"He ran effectively in the Boodles (Fred Winter). I understand he was nearly favourite and wound up being beaten 10 lengths however he hit the front plenty quickly enough that day.


"We will discover however if he's versatile enough to handle any track, he's going there in extremely good order and he should be competitive."