Irish fancied for more Cheltenham success

THE Irish domination of last weekend’s Cheltenham October meeting has prompted bookmaker Paddy Power to install the only two Irish-trained entries for the Paddy Power Gold Cup as co-favourites.

Entries were revealed this week for £160,000 handicap chase, which is the feature race at Cheltenham on Saturday, November 12th.

The race sponsor has priced up the betting with three co-favourites – French Dynamite (Mouse Morris), Ga Law (Jamie Snowden) and Fan De Blues (Willie Mullins).

French Dynamite made a winning reappearance over hurdles at Thurles recently, and Fan De Blues won a Grade B handicap chase at Cork by 10 lengths two weeks ago. Ga Law caught the eye after over 600 days off the track when a fine third at Aintree last weekend.

Irish success

Paddy Power spokesperson Paul Binfield said: “French Dynamite and Fan De Blues have to overcome the fact that the Irish have only won the Paddy Power Gold Cup on five occasions, with the most recent of those being the Edward O’Grady-trained Tranquil Sea back in 2009. However, given the Irish dominance at Cheltenham last weekend, I doubt connections are too worried by statistics!”

Paddy Power bets: 7 Fan De Blues, French Dynamite, Ga Law, 8 Midnight River, 9 Coconut Splash, 10 Il Rodoto, Nassalam, Frero Banbou, 12 Stolen Silver, Minella Drama, Editeur Du Gite, Mister Coffey, 14 bar.