Confirmed runners for Paddy Power Gold Cup as Mister Fisher popular with punters

The Nicky Henderson-trained Mister Fisher has been supported into co-favourite with the sponsors for Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup as a final field of 17 was declared on Thursday.

The James and Jean Potter-owned six-year-old will carry 11st 9lb with former Ryanair Chase runner-up Aso heading the weights.

Paddy Power Gold Cup card

Colm Donlon's Saint Sonnet, for the red-hot combination of Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden, and the Harry Whittington-trained Simply The Betts, who has won four of his five starts over fences including the Plate at last season's festival, are the other two at the head of the market.

Arkle fifth Al Dancer and Slate House, who was sent off the 4-1 favourite for the race last year, are also both single-figure prices.

Paddy Power said: "We're absolutely delighted to get a field of 17 for our return to sponsoring this highly prestigious and always competitive race.

"Mister Fisher has been supported all week, and we're now unable to separate him, Saint Sonnet and Simply The Betts at the front end of the market."

It is a high-class day at Cheltenham with the Grade 2 novice chase attracting the likes of Fusil Raffles, Eldorado Allen, Gumball, Le Patriote, Quel Destin and Zarkareva, while the Listed handicap hurdle features the Tobefair, On The Blind Side, Tea Clipper and Dell' Arca among a field of 12.

Cheltenham Saturday card

The Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial has had a major impact on the festival's ante-post market in recent years with the likes of Defi Du Seuil, Apple's Shakira, Quel Destin and Allmankind winning in recent years and this year's renewal has attracted eight exciting and unexposed runners.

With Gordon Elliott, Paul Nicholls, Dan Skelton and David Pipe represented there is every chance of a new favourite, especially as the Nicholls-trained Hell Red is already a 20-1 co-second favourite and Elliott's Duffle Coat ranges in price from 20-1 to 33s for the main event.

Paddy Power Gold Cup runners and riders

Aso Charlie Deutsch
Simply The Betts Gavin Sheehan
Mister Fisher Nico de Boinville
Al Dancer Sam Twiston-Davies
Slate House Robbie Power
Happy Diva Richard Patrick (3)
Siruh Du Lac Tom Scudamore
Spiritofthegames Harry Skelton
Saint Sonnet Harry Cobden
Domaine De L'Isle Sean Bowen
Brelan D'As Jonjo O'Neill jr
Kauto Riko TBC
Fidux Tom Bellamy
Pinson Du Rheu Micheal Nolan
The Russian Doyen Adrian Heskin
Coole Cody Tom O'Brien
Sky Pirate Jonathan Burke

Paddy Power Gold Cup
Sponsors bet: 9-2 Mister Fisher, Saint Sonnet, Simply The Betts, 15-2 Al Dancer, 9 Slate House, 11 Happy Diva, 12 Siruh Du Lac, Spiritofthegames, 16 Aso, Brelan D'As, 20 Coole Cody, Fidux, Kauto Riko, Sky Pirate, The Russian Doyen, 50 Domaine De L'Isle, 100 Pinson Du Rheu

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