TimeformBlog

Timeform share their Perspective entries for the principals in Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham...


Invariably one of the best-quality handicaps of the season and this renewal lacked nothing in those terms, with the proven class of the likes of Long Run, Poquelin and Mad Max as well as several up-and-comers further down the weights, a pair of whom came to the fore, Little Josh and Dancing Tornado both second-season chasers showing progress. The winner dominated from the off, setting a good pace (eased briefly mid-race), but still seeming to benefit from his position as little got involved, Dancing Tornado worth more credit with that in mind.

Little Josh is transformed since last season, his jumping now an asset, and that's the key factor to the big progress he's making, defying a stiff-looking mark with a smart performance in this competitive affair, and there is some scope to do even better if he can hold it together. Admittedly, his position at the head of affairs seemed an advantage, even though he went fairly hard for the most part, as little made an impact from off the pace, or threatened to for that matter, but his promising rider is worth praise for easing things slightly mid-race before piling it on again from around four out, Little Josh showing a most willing response and beginning to tire only in the last 150 yards. He'll reportedly bid for a big-handicap double in the ****.com Gold Cup here next month, which will clearly require further improvement even allowing for the fact that race tends to be rather less competitive than this one.

Dancing Tornado isn't the most fluent of jumpers as a rule (made no notable mistakes here), so he's no banker to repeat this big effort next time, but it was an excellent run on the day, particularly as he came from so far back, still with loads to do approaching three out and staying on strongly. If his jumping does hold up, he will
remain potentially well treated.

Long Run's talent isn't in doubt, capable of better than this in all likelihood, but his jumping has been his Achilles' Heel on both visits here, running a huge race from a high mark this day but likely to have gone close had he not made several mistakes, sloppy at the sixth, seventh and, more crucially, the third last and second last, testament to his ability that he was strong to the finish despite having lost ground and momentum. The King George is his next target and the return to Kempton, where he won the Feltham of course, may be in his favour, but all the same he'll be playing for a place at best if Kauto Star and Imperial Commander are on their game.

Mad Max will have to improve to defy this mark but shaped for much of this as if he may have it in the locker, within himself until approaching two out, looking the main threat to the winner, and the trip perhaps stretched him at a stiff track, the emphasis much more on speed when he was successful in a Grade 2 at Aintree ending last season. He's raced only on good going or softer (acts on heavy).

Poquelin's positive comments after the Old Roan stand firm, still a big player in top races around this trip, and this probably just came too soon after Aintree, clearly primed for that day, and he didn't travel so fluently as usual.

Great Endeavour remains with plenty of mileage from his mark, a 7 lb rise for his impressive win at the Festival when last seen certainly fair, and he'll be all the better for this reappearance, rather fresh, still taking a hold heading to three out, after which he tired under a hand ride. There is another valuable handicap to be won with him this season, especially considering he's totally unexposed at 3m+ (improved over hurdles on his only try).

Sunnyhillboy gradually got to grips with chasing last season, ending on an upward curve (runner-up to Great Endeavour in Festival Plate), and this was an encouraging enough return, poorly placed and not at all knocked about, the run sure to sharpen him up, perhaps for a crack at the valuable ****.com Gold Cup at the next meeting here. He stays 21f and is unraced on going firmer than good (acts on soft).

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