Il Ridoto was third time lucky to finally win the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham with rising star Freddy Gyngell shining in the saddle.
The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding was fourth in the popular handicap in 2022 and third in 2023, but has fallen in the rankings since then and is looking to put last season’s disappointing finish behind him.
Gyngell, who claims 3lb, grabbed his chance with both hands at 10-1, who continued his sensational spell for co-owners Ged Mason and Sir Alex Ferguson, to win by four-and-a-half lengths. 2022 Winner Ga Law.
“We really dream of days like this,” Gyngell said.
“Down the hill I saw Harry (Cobden) give Jean (Fate, stablemate) a bit of a squeeze and I thought ‘I’m still happy here’.”
“He’s done really well in the end, big thanks to all the house and all the owners. That’s amazing.
“I was told to be nice and fit, he was jumping for fun and he just winged the third (fence) down the hill.
“I thought I got there too early but Paul told me when I turn I have to hit no matter what I do and he made it look easy.”
As for the win so far in his burgeoning career, Gyngell said: “It’s right there, I probably can’t get past the first grade (on Elixir De Nutz at Clarence House at Ascot in January) but it’s definitely done. there.”
“Why not dream?” – L’Eau Du Sud learns from Arkle Trial success
L’Eau Du Sud jumped for fun to easily take the Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase, leaving Dan Skelton to dream of what the future might hold.
Clear Gray was impressive on his maiden debut at Stratford by 10 lengths and the connections wasted little time in taking the Grade Two honours.
L’Eau Du Sud and Harry Skelton
The 10-11 favorite began to look worthy of his mark early in the race with a tidy jump as he traveled smoothly in the hands of Harry Skelton.
Up the hill he laid down the race with little fanfare, recording last and eventually crossing the line by 11 lengths to Western Zephyr and Lookaway, continuing a fine two days for his owners, including Sir Alex Ferguson.
“I will always protect my horses but I try not to talk down to them because they have enough pressure on them anyway.
“I think with a horse like him and seeing what we’ve seen, you have a lot of right to be excited. He’s done it around the track, has book form in the book, and while there will be horses chasing who has achieved more. of obstacles than he, they must go and prove themselves fit.
“We’ve got a tick in the cage, I’m sure others will come out and do the same, we now go to Sandown (Henry VIII) where he’ll be looking to prove he’s the best two-mile novice chaser. In the UK, I’m sure Nicky (Henderson) will have something to say about it with one or two as well as Paul (Nicholls), but I’ll be confident enough to say there’s a level of it. to come with them, it’s impressive to go and do it here.”
He continued: runs and sometimes the third run doesn’t go well.
“Sometimes the spring doesn’t go well, look at Nicky last year and that wiped out 30 per cent of the UK Cheltenham team in one fell swoop. It’s difficult, but I think we have really good horses in this country. But I always say you want to try to compete against them.
“I know Willie (Mullins) is hard to beat and so are Gordon (Elliott) and Henry (de Bromhead) but so are the coaches here.
“This is the best team I’ve ever had and we’ve always hoped to be in the position we’re in.
“There are some in a sexier way and if Ballyburn is chasing everyone will be talking about him. We know how difficult it will be, but why not dream?”
Paddy Power made the winner 16-1 from the 40s for the Arkle Trophy back at Cheltenham in March.
East India Dock cruise to a deeply impressive Triumph Trial victory
East India Dock made light work of the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle as he raced to a clear victory.
The James Owen-trained three-year-old has previously campaigned on the Flat for owner-breeders the Gradley family and made a winning hurdles debut at Wincanton last time out.
Well backed as a 4-5 favorite going into Grade Two, victory was never in doubt.
Nothing could go his way in the field of 10 as Sam Twiston-Davies kicked home and he was 18 lengths ahead of Ollie Murphy’s Static.
As a result, Coral made East India Dock the 8-1 favorite at 25-1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
East India Dock heading home
Owen, who took part in this race 12 months ago also at the spectacular Burdett Road, said: “He’s a great horse and he took him well at Wincanton. I knew the way to stay would be suitable because all he does is stay with this horse, but he has a lot of classes so he is really exciting.
“I don’t have a plan for where to go next but all roads lead to Triumph, he can have another run before then.
“It’s amazing how the Gradleys keep these horses in training because they are so valuable in the foreign market.
“They want winners at Cheltenham, we did that last year with Burdett Road, so now we’ve just got to get this guy to the Festival now and hopefully we can have a bit more success.
“We’ve got quite a few this year, so hopefully that will give us a few cracks at it.”
Owen continued. “He’s just more rested than Burdett Road was at this stage last year and I think the New Course will suit this horse better.
“He’s run twice over hurdles now and he hasn’t put a foot wrong so he’ll probably have another run and go straight to the Victory Hurdle, that’s how high I rate this horse.”
He added: “We have another horse at home who hasn’t run over hurdles yet who was a bit higher than this guy on the flat that we really like called Lavender Hill Mob. He will run in early December. schoolies are also good and like soft ground, while this guy likes better ground.
“This horse is just plainer than Burdett was, we know he’ll stay, we can ride him the way we want and he’s taken to it really well, whereas Burdett took time to get his jump. Burdett is a better horse than him and we’ll see tomorrow (Greatwood Hurdle) how much better.”
Mullins and Transmission are a perfect match
Neil Mulholland saddled two runners at the November meeting at Cheltenham and walked away with two winners as Transmission followed up Double Powerful’s victory in the Steel Plate & Sections Ltd Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase in Friday’s excellent wait for Patrick Mullins.
Mulholland is enjoying a true purple color at the moment; Double Powerful was winning his sixth race in a row, but Transmission came close at Cheltenham in October when he was beaten by Hyland.
The fact Nicky Henderson’s rookie won Friday’s card in better company boosted the form and saw Transmission send off the 11-4 favourite, although he still had five in front of him going down the hill.
Java Point hit the front in the second end, but when Mullins got his mount out he sped up to win by a length and a half.
“Patrick was absolutely brilliant with her, what an incredible ride. I’m really happy,” Mulholland said.
“He just crawled in and he knows where the winning post is. He actually texted me for a ride. The posts were posted on Monday and he posted a message on Monday afternoon.
“Paul (McKeon) owned Renegade with Willie (Mullins) who won the Cheltenham Bumper, so they have connections too, but Paul is a big supporter of ours. When I told her that Patrick had been, she said “don’t tell me”. more.
“Maybe we can look at things like the National Hunt Chase in the long term. That was the plan today. We wanted to give it a few runs here, maybe with something like that in mind.
“He had course and distance form, he had runs under his belt and he had a top amateur so he had a lot going for him. We’re trying to tick as many boxes as possible and it’s paid off.”
