The Paddy Power Gold Cup is the centrepiece of the second day of the November meeting at Cheltenham on Saturday, with 15 going to post for the first big handicap chase of the season. Across the Irish Sea, Navan stages two Grade 2s in the Lismullen Hurdle and the Fortria Chase.
Joe Napier picks out one from Navan and three from Cheltenham to combine for our Saturday Lucky 15.
2.07 Navan – Feet Of A Dancer
Having progressed to be just short of the best hurdlers in the mares’ division last season, FEET OF A DANCER might be able to land the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle in the absence of a star performer. Her rivals are largely solid performers, with Stayers’ Hurdle hero Home By The Lee setting the standard. However, 2m4f will be on the sharp side for him and other targets will provide the day for him. Conversely, Paul Nolan is testing the waters with the selection to see if she can challenge the best in the staying hurdle division. She just might, having won readily on return last season, then twice finished in close proximity to Wodhooh in Graded company, including when third in the Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. She had sauntered to a Grade 2 victory at Doncaster before that and is versatile ground and trip wise. She carries a penalty for her win on Town Moor, but still looks well enough treated to play a significant role.
2.20 Cheltenham – Blueking d’Oroux
Meetmebythesea may have star potential, but even accounting for the Jack Richards form looking very strong, a 12lb rise is steep and he was not at his very best fresh last season. As a six-year-old, he has the most upside in terms of potential, but there is also the tantalising prospect of more to come from BLUEKING D’OROUX. Harry Skelton takes the mount on the Grade 2-winning hurdler, who is debuting for the yard having left Ditcheat over the summer. He was not close to being high class in his novice chasing season, narrowly losing at Kempton behind an inspired winner, then finishing second in a Grade 1 at Aintree after having been hampered. His mark of 148 could still have some juice in it, and Skelton jumps ship from Cheltenham Festival winner Madara. Given that horse concedes him 4lb, the yard must think Blueking d’Oroux is at least as talented and therefore better treated by the handicapper.
2.55 Cheltenham – Horaces Pearl
It would be understandable if HORACES PEARL needed the run after 357 days off the track. However, Fergal O’Brien’s charge boasts enormous potential off a mark of 132. He won the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree in 2024, then won his first two hurdles starts with consummate ease, disposing of a subsequent Grade 2 winner by 5½ lengths in the second of those. He was then competitive in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree and finished third in a Listed event at Perth that was much stronger than that level due to the trainers’ title race between Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton. He was fifth on his only run last season when he travelled smoothly at Haydock, only to fail to see out the finish. The ground was likely slower than advertised that day though and he has gone very well fresh in the past. With 3lb taken off by the handicapper due to his absence, he could still have loads in the tank.
4.00 Cheltenham – Elegantemente
Although Soleretta could be among the dangerous new generation for the Skeltons, ELEGANTEMENTE made a very likeable start for Henry De Bromhead over the summer and can follow up. There are no penalties for winners in this Listed contest, and Darragh O’Keeffe’s mount can put her experience to good use. The Robcour-owned filly won by six lengths at Ballinrobe, from which the runner-up has subsequently won. On collateral form, she is clear of fellow Irish raider Eastern Whisper, while she also ran green, preventing her from winning by further. That experience should stand to her here, so even though there could be dangers lying in wait, she may prove streetsmart enough to beat them all.
