'He has the right profile for this' - top trainers on the Paddy Power Gold Cup

Saturday: 2.20 Cheltenham
Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) | 2m4f | Old | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

A Cheltenham winner trained in Ireland is far from unusual, rather commonplace, but the Paddy Power Gold Cup is a bit of an exception and one Mouse Morris is looking to right with French Dynamite.

Edward O'Grady's Tranquil Sea is the last Irish-trained winner of the race in 2009 and French Dynamite, a winner over hurdles at Thurles last month, is the only travelling representative in the field.

The seven-year-old has won two of his five starts over fences and placed in a competitive novice handicap chase at the Punchestown festival, but Morris is still slightly concerned about his lack of experience.

Morris said: "It's a big competitive handicap and the thing that would worry me is his lack of experience in a race like this. Apart from that, I'm very happy with him.

"He's done well since he won over hurdles at Thurles last month and I'm looking forward to the race."

Quest to go better

Watch the replay of last year’s Paddy Power Gold Cup, and your eyes will be drawn to the stealthy late headway made by Galahad Quest into fifth place behind Midnight Shadow.

He was only five at the time, and went into one of the season’s most fiercely contested handicap chases with just four runs over fences behind him.

Fast forward 12 months and he has gained plenty of experience, including when an excellent Cheltenham second to Torn And Frayed in January.

In addition, he is now 4lb lower than last year, and creeps into the race near the foot of the weights on the back of a highly encouraging Chepstow reappearance second to Flic Ou Voyou.

His trainer Jane Williams said: “We’ve always felt he had a big race in him, and hopefully it will be this one at Cheltenham.

“He ran really well in it last year, he likes the track, and enjoyed a great prep run at Chepstow.”

The stable struck with Javert Allen at Bangor on Wednesday, and Williams added: “The horses are coming into form now, and it’s all systems go. Galahad Quest should run very well.”

'Ideally I'd have preferred another week, but Ga Law's in great shape'

Perceived wisdom is that a horse needs to have potentially half a stone in hand to win a handicap as competitive as the Paddy Power, so the eye is instantly drawn to lightly raced six-year-old Ga Law.

A 22-length thumping of Hurricane Harvey in the Grade 2 “Rising Stars” Novices’ Chase at Wincanton two years ago saw him line up in Sandown’s Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase next time out with an official rating of 150.

The two horses who beat him that day, Allmankind and Hitman, are now rated 159 and 160 respectively, yet Ga Law goes to Cheltenham off a mark of just 142 following a highly encouraging seasonal reappearance third to Riders Onthe Storm at Aintree last month.

Ga Law: Aintree outing last time out was full of promiseCredit: David Davies - Pool (Getty Images)

Trainer Jamie Snowden said: “He ran a great race at Aintree. He made a mistake five out at a crucial time, but showed that he could be very competitive off a mark of 142.”

He added: “Ga Law was a very talented novice chaser two years ago prior to picking up an injury in the spring prior to the Cheltenham Festival.

“The one question mark is the time between Aintree and this race. Aintree was only three weeks ago. Ideally I would have preferred another week, but he’s in great shape.”

What they say

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Mister Fisher
He'll love the ground, which he doesn't always get. This is his trip though, so he's got a chance. He's not quite a Grade 1 horse, so it's difficult for him, but he's got plenty of ability.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Simply The Betts and Il Ridoto
Simply The Betts loves Cheltenham and good ground. He ran well in this race first time out last season. We’ve got him really well and fit. We’ve had this race in mind for Il Ridoto for some time. There are lots of reasons to be positive about his chance.

Evan Williams, trainer of Coole Cody

Coole Cody: a previous winner around CheltenhamCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

What can I say about the old horse – he’s been an absolute dream. We’ll go back and have another crack at the race, and enjoy him while we can. I thought he looked very happy the other day on his reappearance at Cheltenham.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Midnight River
We're very happy with him since his win last time at Stratford and he's continuing to show an increased level of form in his starts. He goes there with a good chance.

David Pipe, trainer of Umbrigado
He's in good form and we've put a pair of blinkers on him to sharpen him up. He should be suited by the ground and the way the race will be run and I hope he can run a good race. It had been a bit of time between drinks before his win at Newton Abbot but he's had a good prep, won't mind the ground and has won over 2m4½f before, so the trip won't be an issue.

Gary Moore, trainer of Nassalam
He didn’t run too badly at Ascot the other day considering he jumped violently to the left at times, which cost him a place. The extra half mile will suit him at Cheltenham, and I think he’s got the right sort of profile for the race – he’s lightly raced, young and unexposed.

Joe Tizzard, trainer of Slate House
He's in good form. He's a bit of an old boy now but he did win at Kempton very early on this season off a 3lb lower mark. This looks a tough task but the owners wanted to have another crack at it and we know he likes the track having won and gone well there previously.

Kerry Lee, trainer of Storm Control
He’s in great form at home and he’s come on for his run at Stratford. It’s tricky with him as he doesn’t really stay beyond three miles, so we thought we’d drop him back a little in trip and give it a go. I’m looking forward to running him.

Alan King, trainer of Deyrann De Carjac
It was frustrating to see him caught close home at Wetherby, but he's come out of the race fine and, as he will relish the prevailing good ground, we’ve decided to allow him to take his chance.

Saturday previews:

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2.55 Cheltenham: Why this intriguing jockey booking could be key to Lisnagar Oscar bouncing back

3.30 Cheltenham: 'He might lack experience but he's got the ability' - will a future star emerge?

Lingfield: Aidan O'Brien's Bolshoi Ballet bids to bounce back before trip to Hong Kong

Naas: 'The Tingle Creek is the plan' - can Gentleman De Mee make a winning return?

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