Punters' pick: 13-2 Al Dancer the key market mover in Paddy Power Gold Cup

Money has come for Al Dancer ahead of this afternoon's Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.15) at Cheltenham.

A 9-1 shot with some firms overnight, the seven-year-old is now as short as 13-2 with the sponsors to follow up his impressive seasonal reappearance at Newton Abbot last month.

Mister Fisher is the outright 9-2 favourite for the £130,000 feature, but fellow market principle Simply The Betts drifting out to a general 11-2 shot (from 5).

Paddy Power's Cheltenham movers

1.40: Gumball 8-1 (from 10)
2.15: Al Dancer 13-2 (from 8)
3.25: Captain Tom Cat 100-30 (from 7-2)
3.55: Martello Sky 12-1 (from 14)

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: "We've seen lots of support for Al Dancer in the big one, but Mister Fisher is now clear 9-2 favourite.

"We had been unable to separate him and a couple of others at the front end, but the momentum that's been building behind the Marsh Novices' Chase fourth all week has pushed him to the forefront."

Elsewhere, there has been a sizeable gamble on the Emma Lavelle-trained Dageneau in the 2m5f handicap hurdle (3.25), with the five-year-old now a general 7-1 shot having been 20-1 overnight.

The race involves one of the most active markets of the morning, with Whatsupwithyou now a general 5-1 shot (from 9) and Topofthecotswolds now 17-2 (from 12).

Going latest

The going at Cheltenham remained good to soft overnight but is expected to ease to soft before racing begins on Paddy Power Gold Cup day, with up to 9mm of rain predicted to fall from this morning.

The likely going change led to a notable non-runner, with the Tom Lacey-trained Tea Clipper withdrawn from the Paddy Power Games Handicap Hurdle (2.50).

The five-year-old had been the general 4-1 favourite for the Listed contest and his defection leaves Mrs Milner, trained by Paul Nolan, as the general 4-1 favourite.

Non-runners

1.05: 2 Fingerontheswitch
2.50: 3 Tea Clipper, 10 Dell' Arca

Cheltenham's clerk of the course, Simon Claisse, said: "There's a little rain here this morning but it was dry overnight. The going on the chase and hurdles courses remains good to soft.

"There is rain forecast throughout the day and we go expect ground conditions to change to soft before racing starts at 12.30."

Cheltenham Saturday previews:

One key runner from each of the seven races on ITV this Saturday

Can Simply The Betts bag another big Cheltenham win in Paddy Power Gold Cup?

'If the rain arrives Eldorado Allen might usurp Fusil Raffles as favourite'

For all our exclusive free bet offers and must-have daily promotions click the free bets button or go to racingpost.com/freebets