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The countdown to The Open is entering its final stages and the sense of anticipation steps up a gear today with the unveiling of the five-day acceptors for the highlight of the meeting.
The running of the Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup will take place on Saturday, November 12, over an extended two and a half miles.
The 32 acceptors for the prestigious handicap chase, the first major race of the Jump season, continue to be headed by five-time Cheltenham winner Poquelin (11st 12lb, 25/1), who finished runner-up in the 2009 Paddy Power Gold Cup and was fifth in 2010.
The eight-year-old is from the stable of champion trainer Paul Nicholls, who has also left in Mon Parrain (10st 8lb), the current 5/1 favourite with Paddy Power who was last seen out when second in the John Smith's Topham Chase over the Grand National fences in April. Nicholls's third possible starter is Aerial (9st 10lb, 16/1).
Cape Tribulation (10st 1lb, 16/1 with Paddy Power), a high-class performer over hurdles, was successful over the smaller obstacles in a Grade Two contest at Doncaster in 2009. His first campaign over fences last season was restricted to four starts, which included a victory at Hexham and a second behind the useful Wayward Prince in the Grade Two Towton Novices' Chase at Wetherby.
His trainer Malcolm Jefferson revealed today: “We would love to run Cape Tribulation in the Paddy Power Gold Cup but he would need proper good jumping ground to take his chance. He is in great form but he is just a better horse with some give underneath.
“He didn't really have a season last year because he got injured at Carlisle on his second start. I thought he ran two great races at Wetherby and Market Rasen and then he couldn't run again because the ground dried up. He was entered at Cheltenham, Aintree and Ayr but the going was too fast and it curtailed his season.
“He is a good horse and he has run well on good ground, but they always seem to be going a stride too quick for him on a faster surface. He is at the right end of the handicap and looks tremendous at the moment but we are just hoping that the ground comes right for him.”
Second best in the market with Paddy Power at 13/2 is the Philip Hobbs-trained Wishfull Thinking (11st 6lb), who was runner-up to Noble Prince (11st 2lb, 10/1 third favourite with Paddy Power) in the Grade Two Jewson Novices' Chase at The Festival before scoring in Grade Two company at Aintree and in a valuable novices' handicap chase at Punchestown.
Noble Prince is one of four remaining entries from Ireland, along with Loosen My Load (10st 9lb, 14/1), third in the Jewson Novices' Chase, the 2010 Galway Plate hero Finger On the Pulse (10st 2lb, 25/1) and Norther Bay (9st 2lb, 40/1).
Last year's renewal of the Paddy Power Gold Cup went the way of Little Josh, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies. The Gloucestershire handler has two entries remaining this time around including Billie Magern (9st 9lb, 20/1) who made a winning reappearance at Cheltenham when taking the ZEturf.com Handicap Chase over two and a half miles at The Showcase on October 15 when he got the better of Buck Mulligan (9st 3lb, 33/1). Twiston-Davies, who also won the Paddy Power Gold Cup with Tipping Tim (1992) and future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander (2008), could also be represented by Swincombe Rock (9st 10lb, 33/1).
Martin Pipe famously sent out a record eight winners of the Paddy Power Gold Cup during his career, while his son and successor at Pond House, David, went close to success in 2006 when Vodka Bleu was runner-up. The one possible starter from the Pipe stable this year is Great Endeavour (10st 3lb, 12/1), who finished sixth to Little Josh last year having previously won the Byrne Group Plate at The Festival in 2010.
Nicky Henderson, successful with Fondmort (2004), has left in three possible challengers - Dave's Dream (10st 3lb, 20/1), Quantitativeeasing (9st 12lb, 16/1) and Aigle D'Or (9st 6lb, 25/1), while Ferdy Murphy, who sent out L'Antartique to victory in 2007, is set to be represented by Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase winner Divers (9st 9lb, 14/1).
Horses that have seen support in the market with Paddy Power include The Giant Bolster (10st 2lb, 12/1), successful in a novices' handicap at Cheltenham last season, the Nicky Richards-trained Noble Alan (11st 2lb, 14/1) and Araldur (10st, 16/1).
Saturday's card kicks off at 1.20pm with the Grade Two JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial which has attracted 14 entries including Bradbury, Face Value, Hinterland, Hollow Tree, Ozeta and Traitor, who were all successful on their only starts to date over hurdles.
The other Graded contest on Saturday's card is the Grade Three Rewards4Racing Handicap Chase (1.55pm) over an extended three miles and three furlongs for which 20 entries have been received including Balthazar King, successful over three miles at The Showcase last month.
The Open concludes on Sunday, November 13, when the highlight is the £100,000 Grade Three Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (2.20pm) over an extended two miles for which 26 contenders go forward.
Paddy Power Gold Cup - Paddy Power Bet
5 Mon Parrain, 13/2 Wishfull Thinking, 10 Noble Prince, 12 Great Endeavour, The Giant Bolster, 14 Divers, Loosen My Load, Noble Alan, 16 Araldur, Cape Tribulation, Quantitativeeasing, Tullamore Dew, Aerial, 20 Billie Magern, Holmwood Legend, Dave's Dream, Fine Parchment, 25 Aigle d'Or, Poquelin, Finger Onthe Pulse, Calgary Bay, Gansey, Vino Griego, 33 Scotsirish, Swincombe Rock, Hector's Choice, Nomecheki, Buck Mulligan, Stormin Exit, Persian Gates, 40 Norther Bay, 50 Rio Gaeleach-way ¼ odds, 4 places
Greatwood Hurdle - Paddy Power Bet
Paddy Power: 8 Pateese, 9 Brampour, 10 Domtaline, Moon Dice, 12 A Media Luz, 14 Kumbeshwar, 16 Third Intention, Sanctuaire, Jack Cool, Oldrik, Via Galilei, 20 Olofi, Topolski, Ultimate, Inspector Clouseau, 25 The Betchworth Kid, Palawi, Harry Tricker, Abergavenny, Alazan, 33 Nearby, Son of Flicka, Viva Colonia, Tarkari, 40 Andhaar, Eightybarackstreeteach-way ¼ odds, 4 places