Topweight Poquelin is set to run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday, owner Andy Stewart has revealed.
Although an outsider for the fiercely-competitive handicap, the five-time Cheltenham winner, fifth in this race 12 months ago and second in 2009, is key to how the race will shape up.
Had the Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old been absent, the weights would have risen 6lb (2.5kg), leaving leading fancy Wishfull Thinking with a welter burden, while a number of those who are currently out of the handicap would be able to run off their official mark.
Stewart also has the Nick Gifford-trained Nomecheki engaged, but he will run instead in the Handicap Chase on Friday.
“I’ve spoken to Nick and Paul this afternoon and we’ve decided that Nomecheki will run in the two-mile (3200m) handicap chase on Friday, and Poquelin will take his chance off top weight in the Paddy Power. That’s the plan,” Stewart said.
Tom Scudamore feels The Giant Bolster has benefited from some expert schooling lessons ahead of Cheltenham.
Trainer David Bridgwater has brought in horse jumping guru Yogi Breisner to school the six-year-old, who won twice during his novice campaign over fences but failed to complete on his other three starts.
Scudamore takes the ride on the second-season chaser this weekend, who had a prep run over hurdles in Chepstow’s Silver Trophy last month.
“He’s done a lot of schooling with Yogi Breisner. He’s been in once a week for the last six weeks or two months,” the jockey told At The Races.
“I had a sit on him on Monday and he jumped very well. It’s all systems go and Bridgy’s horses are in great form, I’m really looking forward to it.”
The Nicholls-trained Mon Parrain continues to be all the rage with punters, with Coral and Betfred cutting the pre-post favourite to 4-1 from 5-1.
“Mon Parrain has been the horse on everyone’s lips since the market for the Paddy Power Gold Cup was formed and it would take a huge gamble on one of the other runners to usurp Paul Nicholls’ gelding as favourite,” Betfred boss Fred Done said.
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