Ground conditions put paid to Jagwar’s Cheltenham bid

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

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

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

“It is because of the way the ground has gone, it was going to be very tough for him so we’ve decided with Oliver and Josh that we’ll wait for another day,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus.

“It’s a pity to miss the race, but it the best thing for the horse. It’s no big deal and he was ready to run, it’s just the ground has gone for him.

“We’ll be looking at all the alternative races for him now as he is very well and was ready to go.”

Alan King, a trainer who 10 years ago struck with Annacotty, runs Es Perfecto in the same colours – a gelding who finished only nine lengths behind Caldwell Potter when fifth at the Cheltenham Festival.

“This has been his target for some time and his preparation has gone well. I’m happy enough with him,” said King.

“He ran very well at the Festival – he only got run out of the places in the last 50 yards.

“He’s ready to start back and we’ll see how we go.”

Paul Nicholls may be without the aforementioned Caldwell Potter, but can call on defending champion Il Ridoto in search of 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 form and Vincenzo is tasked with striking while the iron is hot after some consistent performances last term.

“He put in some great races last season and I’d rather find out where we are in a top race than an ordinary race,” said 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 former of De Bromhead’s duo has won his last three over the larger obstacles and arrives on the back of a clear-cut Listed success at Killarney for Darragh O’Keeffe, while Theatre Native will have the assistance of champion jockey Sean Bowen.

De Bromhead said: “They are two nice horses, and both are in good form.

“Coming Up Easy has won his last three and did it nicely at Killarney the last day.

“Theatre Native won well around there last year and she’d a nice first run back in Limerick, so hopefully she will step forward from that.

“We were delighted to get Sean to ride Theatre Native and we have two jockeys in form which is great.”

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 find out if he’s just a Kempton specialist 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 hit the front plenty soon enough that day.

“We will find out but if he’s versatile enough to handle any track, he’s going there in very good order and he should be competitive.”