The race is most commonly know as the Paddy Power Gold Cup, however this season the sponsorship has changed hands to Betvictor. The grade 3 race has attracted a total of 43 entries at the early declaration stage with a top rating of 160 showing the high class field it has attracted.

My selection for the race is the Paul Nicholls trained Bouvreuil. This son of Saddler Maker had a solid season in his first year over fences being placed at the Cheltenham festival and ending with a respectable 4th in the Grade 1 novice chase at Aintree.

There was no holding back with this horse as Paul threw him right in the deep end on his first career start over fences when tackling the Grade 1 at sandown last December. His inexperience showed with novicey jumps and was always in last position. It was easy to put a line through this run. He was to fair much better next time out when dropped considerably in class, albeit he faced a very good rival in Vyta Du Roc. He was able to show a better turn of foot than his rival this day and won by 1 1/2 lengths.

I feel the trainer got it wrong next time out by dropping him back 2 mile and this was shown as he was well beat into last position in the grade 2 race at Doncaster, albeit a very classy race. The festival was next for this 5 year old gelding, where he perhaps put his best display only being denied by 1/2 length by the talented Ballyalton. The novice handicap chase that he participated in normally works out well and I expect the same again. He ran respectable next time out in a Grade 1 company but he was just outclassed by very good opposition, finishing 4th.

This season I’m expecting plenty of improvement as he was only 4/5 in his first season over fences so with another summer at grass under his belt he is sure to have progressed. He has since changed owners with JP making the most of Potensis selling most of there stock and purchasing this talented individual. With a mark of 146 it already shows he’s produced a good level of form and I fully expect him to improve on this and I can see him getting to 155 come the end of the season.

Selection:- Bouvreuil 1pt EW 20/1