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02 Nov 11
13:10
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sportinglife.com
This year's Open at Cheltenham moves a step closer today with the unveiling of the weights for the £150,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup which takes place on Saturday, November 12.
The weights are headed for a second consecutive year by Poquelin (11st 12lb), who was fifth behind Little Josh 12 months ago prior to posting a pair of victories at Cheltenham in the Grade Three December Gold Cup and the Grade Two Masterson Holdings Trophy Chase.
The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old bids to become the first horse to carry top-weight to victory in the two and a half-mile contest since Cyfor Malta triumphed for a second time in 2002.
Nicholls is also responsible for Mon Parrain, who heads the market following an impressive first season in Britain last term that included a facile Sandown handicap chase victory in March. The progressive five-year-old, who warmed up for his major autumn target by working after racing at Exeter racecourse yesterday, has been allotted 10st 8lb
Kieran Burke, who saddled a winner with his very first runner on the same Exeter card since taking over from Pat Rodford, is looking forward to seeing Holmwood Legend (10st 3lb) return to Cheltenham.
As a jockey, Burke enjoyed the biggest success of his career when he partnered Holmwood Legend to a storming victory in the Grade Three Byrne Group Plate over two miles and five furlongs at The Festival in March.
The pair returned to Cheltenham the following month and ran another excellent race in defeat over the same course and distance when going down by half a length to Poquelin in the Masterson Holdings Trophy Chase, despite racing from 10lb out of the limited handicap.
Burke commented: "Holmwood Legend is definitely on course for the Paddy Power Gold Cup. He improved more than any of us expected last season and we thought that his final run of the season behind Poquelin was better than his victory at The Festival.
"He was very impressive that day and he obviously loves racing at Cheltenham. We are hoping to try and go back there as often as possible this season, and I hope that he could also line up in the December Gold Cup
"Ideally, we would like goodish ground for him - he has won on soft before but that was when his handicap mark was very low.
"He is 10 years old and we did very well with him last season. I know that I have a very tough task to keep improving him after such a rise in the weights but he loves Cheltenham and I am looking forward to seeing him back in action."
Other notable contenders for the Paddy Power Gold Cup include Noble Prince (11st 2lb), from the Irish stable of Paul Nolan, the Philip Hobbs-trained Wishfull Thinking (11st 6lb), and the Henry de Bromhead-trained Loosen My Load (10st 9lb), who finished first, second and third respectively in the Grade Two Jewson Novices' Chase at The Festival in March.
Great Endeavour (10st 3lb), successful in the 2010 Byrne Group Plate, may line up for David Pipe, while the Ferdy Murphy-trained Divers (9st 9lb), victorious in the Listed Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase at this year's Festival, could bid to bounce back from a disappointing seasonal return at Carlisle on Sunday.
The sponsors bet:
11/2 Mon Parrain, 15/2 Wishfull Thinking, 12 Divers, Ghizao, Great Endeavour, The Giant Bolster, 14 Noble Prince, 16 Loosen My Load, Quantitativeeasing, Tullamore Dew, Aerial, 20 Muirhead, Holmwood Legend, Dave's Dream, Noble Alan, Fine Parchment, Blazing Tempo, Quartz de Thaix, The Knoxs, Aigle d'Or, Shoreacres, Kauto Stone
This year's Open at Cheltenham moves a step closer today with the unveiling of the weights for the £150,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup which takes place on Saturday, November 12.
The weights are headed for a second consecutive year by Poquelin (11st 12lb), who was fifth behind Little Josh 12 months ago prior to posting a pair of victories at Cheltenham in the Grade Three December Gold Cup and the Grade Two Masterson Holdings Trophy Chase.
The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old bids to become the first horse to carry top-weight to victory in the two and a half-mile contest since Cyfor Malta triumphed for a second time in 2002.
Nicholls is also responsible for Mon Parrain, who heads the market following an impressive first season in Britain last term that included a facile Sandown handicap chase victory in March. The progressive five-year-old, who warmed up for his major autumn target by working after racing at Exeter racecourse yesterday, has been allotted 10st 8lb
Kieran Burke, who saddled a winner with his very first runner on the same Exeter card since taking over from Pat Rodford, is looking forward to seeing Holmwood Legend (10st 3lb) return to Cheltenham.
As a jockey, Burke enjoyed the biggest success of his career when he partnered Holmwood Legend to a storming victory in the Grade Three Byrne Group Plate over two miles and five furlongs at The Festival in March.
The pair returned to Cheltenham the following month and ran another excellent race in defeat over the same course and distance when going down by half a length to Poquelin in the Masterson Holdings Trophy Chase, despite racing from 10lb out of the limited handicap.
Burke commented: "Holmwood Legend is definitely on course for the Paddy Power Gold Cup. He improved more than any of us expected last season and we thought that his final run of the season behind Poquelin was better than his victory at The Festival.
"He was very impressive that day and he obviously loves racing at Cheltenham. We are hoping to try and go back there as often as possible this season, and I hope that he could also line up in the December Gold Cup
"Ideally, we would like goodish ground for him - he has won on soft before but that was when his handicap mark was very low.
"He is 10 years old and we did very well with him last season. I know that I have a very tough task to keep improving him after such a rise in the weights but he loves Cheltenham and I am looking forward to seeing him back in action."
Other notable contenders for the Paddy Power Gold Cup include Noble Prince (11st 2lb), from the Irish stable of Paul Nolan, the Philip Hobbs-trained Wishfull Thinking (11st 6lb), and the Henry de Bromhead-trained Loosen My Load (10st 9lb), who finished first, second and third respectively in the Grade Two Jewson Novices' Chase at The Festival in March.
Great Endeavour (10st 3lb), successful in the 2010 Byrne Group Plate, may line up for David Pipe, while the Ferdy Murphy-trained Divers (9st 9lb), victorious in the Listed Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase at this year's Festival, could bid to bounce back from a disappointing seasonal return at Carlisle on Sunday.
The sponsors bet:
11/2 Mon Parrain, 15/2 Wishfull Thinking, 12 Divers, Ghizao, Great Endeavour, The Giant Bolster, 14 Noble Prince, 16 Loosen My Load, Quantitativeeasing, Tullamore Dew, Aerial, 20 Muirhead, Holmwood Legend, Dave's Dream, Noble Alan, Fine Parchment, Blazing Tempo, Quartz de Thaix, The Knoxs, Aigle d'Or, Shoreacres, Kauto Stone
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take the handbrake off now Ferdy 
As much as he looks on a lenient mark, its hard to fancy him on his Kelso re-appearance especially with the fact that Graham will only be able to give him eight smacks of the whip around Prestbury Park this time around 
Weights in alphabetical order.
122-P2 Ad Idem 7 9-9 Mrs Pauline Gavin 139 144 175
F4712- Aerial 5 9-10 Paul Nicholls 140 138 176
10-53 Aigle D´Or 8 9-6 Nicky Henderson 136 166 171
2211-2 Araldur 7 10-0 Alan King 144 164 182
5028-1 Billie Magern 7 9-9 Nigel Twiston-Davies 139 139 171
25-214 Blazing Tempo 7 10-8 W P Mullins 152 167 180
35422 Buck Mulligan 6 9-3 Evan Williams 133 148 166
6242F- Calgary Bay 8 10-2 Henrietta Knight 146 160 178
1P22- Cape Tribulation 7 10-1 Malcolm Jefferson 145 131 175
40/10- Dave´s Dream 8 10-3 Nicky Henderson 147 139 179
5911-P Divers 7 9-9 Ferdy Murphy 139 145 173
821U-2 Fine Parchment 8 9-8 Charlie Mann 138 163 168
00-701 Finger Onthe Pulse 10 10-2 T J Taaffe 146 157 176
10FP-3 Gansey 9 9-5 Sue Smith 135 139 168
15528- Gauvain 9 10-11 Nick Williams 155 167 183
1152-4 Ghizao 7 10-11 Paul Nicholls 155 145 178
351-F5 Gilbarry 6 10-2 Jonjo O´Neill 146 136 178
62F6- Great Endeavour 7 10-3 David Pipe 147 164 179
031P-1 Hector´s Choice 7 9-9 Richard Lee 139 144 168
2F112- Holmwood Legend 10 10-3 Kieran Burke 147 163 171
61173- Kauto Stone 5 10-11 Paul Nicholls 155 — 125
3-2512 Loosen My Load 7 10-9 Henry De Bromhead 153 163 174
2142-1 Medermit 5x 7 11-1 Alan King 159 162 171
4U34-6 Misstree Dancer 7 8-5 Nick Mitchell 121 141 157
5312- Mon Parrain 5 10-8 Paul Nicholls 152 175 182
631418 Muirhead 8 10-3 Noel Meade 147 156 180
3F7-4U Noble Alan 8 9-12 Nicky Richards 142 174 174
221-F1 Noble Prince 7 11-2 Paul Nolan 160 165 176
02P-2 Nomecheki 9 9-9 Nick Gifford 139 169 169
F124U Norther Bay 8 9-2 Eoin Griffin 132 130 163
3124-3 Oiseau De Nuit 9 10-9 Colin Tizzard 153 175 179
1-211F Persian Gates 7 8-11 Chris Bealby 127 140 162
F96F-2 Pickamus 8 9-4 Henry Daly 134 159 167
97394- Pigeon Island 8 9-2 Nigel Twiston-Davies 132 158 168
5141-5 Poquelin 8 11-12 Paul Nicholls 170 163 174
21F342 Pure Faith 7 9-12 Peter Bowen 142 129 178
7112-0 Quantitativeeasing 6 9-12 Nicky Henderson 142 150 175
6117-P Quartz De Thaix 7 9-3 Venetia Williams 133 158 170
3R4215 Rio Gael 5 8-11 Peter Bowen 127 151 160
153363 Scotsirish 10 10-10 W P Mullins 154 165 178
10-F5 Shoreacres 8 8-13 Brendan Powell 129 142 168
718-61 Stormin Exit 8 9-0 Jim Goldie 130 146 165
73F-3 Sunnyhillboy 8 9-12 Jonjo O´Neill 142 159 179
114P-2 Swincombe Rock 6 9-10 Nigel Twiston-Davies 140 151 173
63170- Tatenen 7 10-1 Richard Rowe 145 153 181
F1UF-4 The Giant Bolster 6 10-2 David Bridgwater 146 132 174
FF11- The Knoxs 8 9-7 Paul Nicholls 137 163 173
2123-5 Tullamore Dew 9 9-10 Nick Gifford 140 155 174
63234- Vino Griego 6 9-3 Gary Moore 133 149 165
2121-1 Wishfull Thinking 8 11-6 Philip Hobbs 164 157 175
F7/2-5 Zaarito 9 10-4 C A Murphy 148 166 175
122-P2 Ad Idem 7 9-9 Mrs Pauline Gavin 139 144 175
F4712- Aerial 5 9-10 Paul Nicholls 140 138 176
10-53 Aigle D´Or 8 9-6 Nicky Henderson 136 166 171
2211-2 Araldur 7 10-0 Alan King 144 164 182
5028-1 Billie Magern 7 9-9 Nigel Twiston-Davies 139 139 171
25-214 Blazing Tempo 7 10-8 W P Mullins 152 167 180
35422 Buck Mulligan 6 9-3 Evan Williams 133 148 166
6242F- Calgary Bay 8 10-2 Henrietta Knight 146 160 178
1P22- Cape Tribulation 7 10-1 Malcolm Jefferson 145 131 175
40/10- Dave´s Dream 8 10-3 Nicky Henderson 147 139 179
5911-P Divers 7 9-9 Ferdy Murphy 139 145 173
821U-2 Fine Parchment 8 9-8 Charlie Mann 138 163 168
00-701 Finger Onthe Pulse 10 10-2 T J Taaffe 146 157 176
10FP-3 Gansey 9 9-5 Sue Smith 135 139 168
15528- Gauvain 9 10-11 Nick Williams 155 167 183
1152-4 Ghizao 7 10-11 Paul Nicholls 155 145 178
351-F5 Gilbarry 6 10-2 Jonjo O´Neill 146 136 178
62F6- Great Endeavour 7 10-3 David Pipe 147 164 179
031P-1 Hector´s Choice 7 9-9 Richard Lee 139 144 168
2F112- Holmwood Legend 10 10-3 Kieran Burke 147 163 171
61173- Kauto Stone 5 10-11 Paul Nicholls 155 — 125
3-2512 Loosen My Load 7 10-9 Henry De Bromhead 153 163 174
2142-1 Medermit 5x 7 11-1 Alan King 159 162 171
4U34-6 Misstree Dancer 7 8-5 Nick Mitchell 121 141 157
5312- Mon Parrain 5 10-8 Paul Nicholls 152 175 182
631418 Muirhead 8 10-3 Noel Meade 147 156 180
3F7-4U Noble Alan 8 9-12 Nicky Richards 142 174 174
221-F1 Noble Prince 7 11-2 Paul Nolan 160 165 176
02P-2 Nomecheki 9 9-9 Nick Gifford 139 169 169
F124U Norther Bay 8 9-2 Eoin Griffin 132 130 163
3124-3 Oiseau De Nuit 9 10-9 Colin Tizzard 153 175 179
1-211F Persian Gates 7 8-11 Chris Bealby 127 140 162
F96F-2 Pickamus 8 9-4 Henry Daly 134 159 167
97394- Pigeon Island 8 9-2 Nigel Twiston-Davies 132 158 168
5141-5 Poquelin 8 11-12 Paul Nicholls 170 163 174
21F342 Pure Faith 7 9-12 Peter Bowen 142 129 178
7112-0 Quantitativeeasing 6 9-12 Nicky Henderson 142 150 175
6117-P Quartz De Thaix 7 9-3 Venetia Williams 133 158 170
3R4215 Rio Gael 5 8-11 Peter Bowen 127 151 160
153363 Scotsirish 10 10-10 W P Mullins 154 165 178
10-F5 Shoreacres 8 8-13 Brendan Powell 129 142 168
718-61 Stormin Exit 8 9-0 Jim Goldie 130 146 165
73F-3 Sunnyhillboy 8 9-12 Jonjo O´Neill 142 159 179
114P-2 Swincombe Rock 6 9-10 Nigel Twiston-Davies 140 151 173
63170- Tatenen 7 10-1 Richard Rowe 145 153 181
F1UF-4 The Giant Bolster 6 10-2 David Bridgwater 146 132 174
FF11- The Knoxs 8 9-7 Paul Nicholls 137 163 173
2123-5 Tullamore Dew 9 9-10 Nick Gifford 140 155 174
63234- Vino Griego 6 9-3 Gary Moore 133 149 165
2121-1 Wishfull Thinking 8 11-6 Philip Hobbs 164 157 175
F7/2-5 Zaarito 9 10-4 C A Murphy 148 166 175
Great endeavour ten stone three???? 
I'm going in deep.
I'm going in deep.
I've had my first ever Ante Post bet on Betfair on Mon Perrain. Poqulein kept in to keep the weights down for Mon Perrain(10-8) will win with it's head in it's chest i've been told...Usually fall at the first these ones 
Nicholls has a hype horse most years for the PP Gold Cup but his record is pretty poor. Just be aware Mon Parrain fans 
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