December 14 / 13.50 Cheltenham

13.50

Good To Soft

Nyetimber December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £71187.5
  • 2m 4f 127y
  • Class 1
  • 11 runners
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Nyetimber December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form: /550-1 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
On a career-high mark and not guaranteed to get an easy lead in this field but is certainly one to bear in mind, having looked better than ever at Ascot (2m5f, good) last month on seasonal debut when making all for an emphatic success that took his chase record to 4-14.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

1st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:05 Cheltenham

Gemirande

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

set good pace, headed just after 2nd, weakened quickly after 3 out

100/30

7/2

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 119-84 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Initiated a notable handicap double with a win over 2m on this card 12 months ago (for Sophie Leech); made very promising late headway upped to 2m4f in the Paddy Power Gold Cup here on debut for Dan Skelton, looking a likely type for this prize; usual cheekpieces now reapplied; highly interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Madara

10st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

in touch with leaders on outer

7/2

2nd

8

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Madara

10st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

in touch with leaders on outer

7/2

4th

12

16th Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

14:20 Cheltenham

Madara

10st 2lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Campaigned at about 2m in Britain; registered two notable wins on soft ground last winter for Sophie Leech but has proved disappointing in two subsequent runs, latest for Keiran Burke; enough to prove back up in distance on debut for Dan Skelton.

16/1

11/2

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 13PP-5 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Largely respectable record at Cheltenham features a win (off 1lb higher) in this race last year when the cards dropped perfectly and he collared Il Ridoto, who helped force a strong pace, in the final strides; it's all systems go with reappearance (fifth in the Paddy Power) under his belt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Fugitif

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Richard Hobson

didn't always jump with fluency, towards rear on inner

11/2

3rd

4

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Fugitif

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Richard Hobson

didn't always jump with fluency, towards rear on inner

11/2

5th

6

16th Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

14:20 Cheltenham

Fugitif

10st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Richard Hobson

Ran well in sole good-ground attempt; largely respectable record at Cheltenham features a success (off 1lb lower) in major 2m4f handicap last December when the cards dropped perfectly; finished fourth in this race 12 months ago and again has frame possibilities, having had wind surgery since last run.

14/1

Form: 00-143 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Solid record in 2m4f novice handicaps since switched to fences, winning at Warwick then making the frame twice at Cheltenham; faces a tougher assignment in this field but remains well treated if judged on best hurdles form, which includes a Grade 2 success here three years ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

10

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Guard Your Dreams

10st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

took keen hold, in touch with leaders

16/1

Form: 14UP-1

Last run: 63 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Ended last season with two non-completions but got round and beat Ga Law at Chepstow (2m3f, good; sole run this term) two months ago, returning to best form; respectable fourth (off this mark) in this contest last year and again has frame possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Grandeur DAme

10st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Alan King

prominent, not fluent 1st

8/1

Form: 08P-51 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Made it third time lucky in the Paddy Power Gold Cup here (2m4f, good) four weeks ago and now bids for another crack at this prize, having made a bold bid from the front 12 months ago when collared by old rival Fugitif only in the shadow of the post; career-high mark is the only drawback.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Il Ridoto

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second, prominent 3rd

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: /1P5-4 CD BF

Last run: 48 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 162

Form & Verdict
Only fourth of five when favourite for the Old Roan seven weeks ago but should relish the return to Cheltenham, having gained last three wins here, most recently in the 2023 Paddy Power Gold Cup when recording a very smart handicap performance (RPR 169); possibilities even off top weight.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Stage Star

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

led, raced in second

11/2

Form: 111-15 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Has had wind surgery (his third) since never-dangerous fifth over the National fences at Aintree last time; has form figures of 231111 over conventional fences, the most recent win in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen (2m5f); progressive but faces a stiffer task off current mark in this field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Sure Touch

10st 8lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Olly Murphy

held up in last

25/1

Form: 1P2-22 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 156

Form & Verdict
Landed the 2022 Paddy Power Gold Cup and ran well behind Il Ridoto in the latest edition of that contest, taking his form figures in Cheltenham handicaps to 112; in a consistent vein of form generally (runner-up in last three appearances) and again holds very solid claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Ga Law

11st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

towards rear

13/2

Form: 114P-1 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
Struggled at the Cheltenham Festival but resumed his progress in fine style at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) on reappearance, taking his strike-rate over fences to 4-6 and record in handicap chases to 3-3; gained the other win in Sandown Grade 1; could defy new mark, the way he's going.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

3

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Le Patron

11st 5lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

prominent, lost position 6th

12/1

Form: U51-PU CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Unseated rider four out in the Paddy Power Gold Cup here last month; has a respectable Cheltenham record otherwise and ties in with Madara on form shown on this card last year; registered a ready success in Grade 2 handicap over C&D (good) in April and has the ability to get involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

4

19th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:30 Windsor

In Excelsis Deo

11st 8lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

Unraced over hurdles in Britain but showed promise in this discipline when trained in France; has had jumping issues over fences on his last three starts and perhaps this return to hurdles will prompt a revival; well treated on last spring's 2m4f chase form and has shown staying potential.

11/1

11th

4

19th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:30 Windsor

In Excelsis Deo

11st 8lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

midfield, jumped right 1st, mistake 8th, headway 9th, weakened 2 out

11/1

11th

7

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

In Excelsis Deo

10st 8lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

always behind, not fluent 2nd

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £27.40
Straight Forecast £22.34
Tricast £96.71
Trifecta £239.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Madara

TOPSPEED:

Ga Law

RP RATINGS:

Gemirande

WEST COUNTRY:

Fugitif

Daily Record:

Il Ridoto

Telegraph:

Stage Star

The Times:

Madara

D Express:

Madara

The Sun:

Madara

The Star:

Madara

Daily Mirror:

Gemirande

POSTDATA:

Ga Law

LAMBOURN:

Ga Law

Daily Mail:

Fugitif