Five horses who went on to better things from last year's big autumn handicaps

The Coral Gold Cup and Paddy Power Gold Cup have special status among Britain's handicap chases. No others have as strong a heritage in terms of setting horses on the path to the summit of the sport in either the King George, Gold Cup or Grand National.

These races are even more indicative than the National, which tends to be more of an end in itself. Paddy Power winners such as Exotic Dancer, Al Ferof and Imperial Commander, as well as Denman, Native River, Bobs Worth and Many Clouds from the Coral Gold Cup have all gone on to become mainstays in the top jump races.

Picking the above examples is not just a case of recency bias. It just shows that you don't need to go too far back to find horses who fit the pattern. Even last year, these races threw up winners and major players in other big prizes through the rest of the jumps season.

2nd, Paddy Power Gold Cup; 3rd, Gold Cup

For all the excitement about last season's novices, Protektorat might be Britain's best hope in March's Gold Cup. He was on the bridle for as long as A Plus Tard last season and is being primed for another crack at the Irish ace in the Betfair Chase. But he was realistically only third best in last year's Paddy Power Gold Cup, when his late rattle could not reel in Midnight Shadow and would probably not have beaten Coole Cody either had he stood up.

Fell, Paddy Power Gold Cup; WON December Gold Cup, WON Festival Plate

A course specialist and former winner, when he came down two out in last year's Paddy Power while still narrowly in front there was only a minority view he would have held off Midnight Shadow. Yet quite a few might have revised their opinion, given he went on to win the December Gold Cup and Festival Plate on Cheltenham's New course in the months that followed.

12th, Paddy Power Gold Cup; WON Greatwood Gold Cup, 4th Melling Chase

This likeable front-runner could not get to the lead in the Paddy Power, but following wind surgery he went on to be one of the most impressive handicap winners of the season in a Grade 3 at Newbury in March, before making the frame in a Grade 1 at Aintree.

Fiddlerontheroof
2nd, Coral Gold Cup; 5th, Grand National

The fact he was 28 lengths clear of the third when Cloudy Glen held him off at Newbury is something of the story of Fiddlerontheroof's life. He shaped best off his revised mark at Ascot next time and just ran out of puff when bidding for Aintree glory, albeit still managing to reward most of his each-way backers.

Pulled up, Coral Gold Cup; 2nd Coral Trophy, 2nd Scottish Grand National, 3rd bet365 Gold Cup

This popular chaser, then still five, found the Coral Gold Cup a bit too much after he had finished second in the Charlie Hall. His spring campaign contained everything but a big win, something his connections will look to put right in 2023, by when he will finally be qualified to run in the Grand National.

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