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Nadiya Not To Be Missed In Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup

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It doesn’t seem like five minutes since David Pipe’s Great Endeavour was powering up the Cheltenham hill to see off Quantitativeeasing and co to claim the 2011 Paddy Power Gold Cup, but 12 months on it’s showtime for those bidding to claim this year’s renewal, worth a not insignificant £91,120 to the winner.

Live on Channel 4 at 2.35pm the big race is oozing with star quality, not least from 157-rated favourite Grands Crus, as the classy grey son of Dom Alco looks to give Pipe consecutive wins in the race.

Before him his father Martin took this race a staggering eight times, and it’s not hard to see why bookmakers aren’t taking too many chances with Grands Crus, especially when you consider he was a 10 length course and distance winner here on his chasing debut a year ago.

That said, he hasn’t seen the track for 248 days, and could only finish a disappointing 18 length fourth to Bobs Worth when sent off 6/5 market leader for the RSA Chase here in March.

Running in a handicap for the first time in two years there is the chance he could turn this into a procession, but at the prices there are plenty of value alternatives to try and at least find one to join him in the frame, and charismatic West Country owner Anthony Knott hasn’t been shy in voicing his confidence in Hunt Ball’s chances of adding to his novices’ handicap win at the Festival back in March.

He’s on an identical mark to Grands Crus, but this really is where the going gets tough for a horse who made an almost miraculous rise up through the ranks in 2011/12.

It’d be a great story if he were to win and reward his connections with another day in the spotlight, but the likes of Walkon, Al Ferof and the very well backed Triolo D’Alene will ensure a vert stern test.

The one I like though is available at bigger odds than any of them, and with a couple of the bookmakers willing to lay us the fifth place concession each way I’m going to suggest a few quid each way on one of Nicky Henderson’s trio in the race Nadiya De La Vega.

Henderson was out of luck with four runners at the track on Friday, but has three chances to bag the big one a day later, with Quantitativeeasing (second in this in 2011), Triolo D’Alene and Nadiya De La Vega all holding more than a squeak (Tanks For That is a non runner).

Nadiya De La Vega is a tough daughter of Lost World, and proved her fitness and wellbeing with a course and distance win here at the Showcase meeting exactly four weeks ago.

She’s entitled to come on for that run, and with track, trip and ground to suit you’d have to think she can be in the mix, especially as an 8lbs rise put her in on 145 and a racing weight of 10.8.

Champion jockey AP McCoy is available to ride after steering her home last time, and at six years of age this could be a big season for her.

She certainly hasn’t got too many miles on the clock, but does have a very likeable attitude, and at 14/1 with the sponsors or bet365 (both are offering each way 1/4 odds 1-2-3-4-5) she makes plenty of appeal (William Hill go 16′s, but only to four places).

Elsewhere on the card I expect Sire Collonges to confirm novice chase form with Sea Of Thunder at 1.20pm.

Paul Nicholls’ exciting youngster beat Sea Of Thunder by two lengths at level weights here a month ago, but now has to try and concede a three pound penalty, something I reckon he’ll manage in style given his flamboyant jumping and free wheeling attacking style.

Contrast that with the blunders that seem to have characterised Sea Of Thunder’s chasing career to date, and you have decent grounds to back Sire Collonges to do the business at 15/8 with either bet365 or Sky Bet.

Both Masters Hill and Sraid Padraig will be decent value options in a hot race, but I think both will struggle to reel in one as as good as Sire Collonges, especially when he already has winning experience at this track in the locker.

Good luck!

Saturday’s best bets at Cheltenham:

1.20 – Rewardsforracing Novices’ Chase – 1 Sire Collonges (win) @ 15/8 (bet365 or Skybet)

2.35 – Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase – 10 Nadiya De La Vega (each way) @ 14/1 (bet365 or Paddy Power – both offer 5 places)

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