An early guide to the 2026 Paddy Power Gold Cup

Andy Stephens studies all the contenders quoted at shorter than 20-1 and suggests three outsiders who could outrun their odds.

BLUEKING D’OROUX

Trainer: Dan Skelton. Rating: 148. Jump Index: 7.6. Odds: 6-1.

Dan Skelton has already done well with horses he has inherited from Paul Nicholls and Blueking D’Oroux is another intriguing recruit for him from Ditcheat.

The French-bred seven-year-old put up a career-best when chasing home Koktail Devin in the Grade One Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April, having made most of the running. The winner had previously run well when a non-staying fifth in the Brown Advisory.

A mark of 148 looks manageable, albeit he had not been able to exploit a mark of 141 on his penultimate start in a handicap at Kempton.

His jumping has been no issue and he seems well served by decent ground, although his lack of a recent run is worth considering given that he has been beaten first time out in three of his four campaigns.

Skelton’s Actual versus Expected at Cheltenham in the past year is a very healthy 1.38 (14 winners from 75 runners).

MADARA

Trainer: Dan Skelton. Rating: 152. Jump Index: 7.6. Odds: 6-1.

It was a case of “mission accomplished” for Madara when he landed the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He had been well touted for the race through the winter and those who sent him off 3-1 favourite had few anxious moments as he powered to an emphatic success.

The handicapper took exception, raising him 10lb, but that did not stop Madara going close to following up in the Topham, when he again jumped and travelled well.

He begins this campaign another 2lb higher, but that need not stop him putting up another bold show for the same team as last year's winner, Panic Attack, especially after a pleasing comeback run over hurdles at Carlisle a couple of weeks ago when he was considerately handled and minus the cheekpieces he wore in the spring.

That should have put him spot-on for his return to Cheltenham (seven runs at the track) and I’d imagine the headgear will be back on. His past three RaceiQ Jump Index scores at Cheltenham have been 7.9, 8.4 and 8.0. out of 10. An average score would be 6.8.

MEETMEBYTHESEA

Trainer: Ben Pauling. Rating: 151. Jump Index: 8.1 (was 6.9 over hurdles). Odds: 6-1.

Meetmebythesea has been beaten only twice in his eight races, when a close third in the EBF Final on his final start over hurdles and when dipping his toe into deeper waters in the Game Spirit Chase last season.

That Newbury race, needed for qualification to run at Cheltenham, was perhaps a means to an end as the JP McManus-owned six-year-old looked a different proposition when a commanding winner of the Jack Richards Handicap Chase the following month.

RaceiQ’s data backed up the visual impression he made that day. Meetmebythesea spent less time in the Jumping Envelope that any of his rivals (30 metres before and after the fence); entered each fence quicker than anything else (average 30.84mph); recovered best of all after each leap (average 0.55sec) plus boasted the Top Speed (36.39mph), Most Lengths Gained (13.59 lengths) and best Finishing Speed (106.56%).

It was a case of “Bingo” and the form has a glow. The second and third went on to dominate a Grade One contest at Aintree; the fourth has since won the Galway Plate; the fifth was going well when exiting in the closing stages of the Irish National; the sixth has since won a Grade Two Hurdle and even the eleventh has since finished runner-up in the Kerry National.

The negative for his connections is that the handicapper, having initially raised him 7lb, has upped that to 12lb. That’s understandable, though, and he has shown himself to be versatile regards the ground. Another positive is that he has won first time out in each of his two seasons, for all that those races have been nothing like so competitive as this.

Incidentally, Meetmebythesea’s Fstival success has been Ben Pauling’s only winner from 37 runners at he track in the last 12 months. His A/E is 0.37.

QUEBECOIS

Trainer: Paul Nicholls. Rating: 141. Jump Index: 8.0. Odds: 8-1.

Will line up as a novice, but he has already run two crackers at Cheltenham this year – losing out by a nose on Trials Day in January before being beaten about half a length into third in the Ultima in March.

He looked sure to lose his maiden status on his return at Newton Abbot but a rare hesitant jump at the final fence proved costly. That’s the fifth time in a year he’s traded odds-on in-running (1.03) and been beaten, but there looks nothing wrong with his attitude.

And there is nothing wrong with his jumping as he’s jumped best in six of his seven starts over fences; gaining 19 lengths in the air at the Festival in March 

His connections cannot seem to make their mind up about his trip - a tilt at the Scottish Grand National on heavy ground backfired in April – but he does not seem short of gears.

Like Pauling, Nicholls has had a lean time at Cheltenham in the past 12 months, claiming one winner from 26 runners, with his A/E being 0.38.

 JAGWAR

Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero. Rating: 155. Jump Index: 7.9. Odds: 16-1.

Was a late absentee from last year’s edition of the Paddy Power, when favourite, on account of the deep ground.

Twelve months on, conditions seem likely to be more favourable and he’s enhanced his excellent record at Cheltenham in the interim, with his record in hot handicaps at the track reading 11322.

Negatives are that he’s now 16lb higher in the ratings than when winning at the Festival in 2025, and that he may have hit a ceiling over this trip 

His near-miss in the Ultima, in March, came over 3m and encouraged his connections to have a crack at the Grand National, in which he came down after halfway.

Also, this looks a stronger renewal than the one he missed in 2025.

VINCENZO

Trainer: Sam Thomas. Rating: 141. Jump Index: 7.4. Odds: 16-1.

Went off favourite last year and beat all bar Panic Attack. He would have given the mare more to think about, too, but an untimely error at the final fence when he lost 8mph. RaceiQ gave him a score of 5.1 for that last leap; his worst of the round.

Vincenzo also found one good in the December Gold Cup back at Cheltenham the following month before gaining a deserved narrow success at Ascot 

He was unable to keep up his sequence of solid spins in the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury but is likely to be back on his A Game after his summer break. However, the new kids on the block boast strength in depth and his window may have passed.

In common with Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero, Sam Thomas has not had a winner at Cheltenham in the last year.

Join Racing TV for FREE!

Click here to start your free one-month trial!

Watch over 100 live race meetings for FREE! Start your free one-month trial of Racing TV.

ZURICH

Trainer: Henry De Bromhead. Rating: 138. Jump Index: 7.2. Odds: 16-1.

Zurich had no excuses when fifth to Madara in the Plate in March (beaten 14 lengths) and he’s only 8lb better off, having subsequently gone close at Haydock.

On the plus side, he has upped his game in the jumping department at Cheltenham, getting scores of 8.1 and 8.0 on his two visits, and unlike several of these, has got in a pipe opener, running as if in need of the run at Limerick last month when fading to be fifth.

Henry De Bromhead’s A/E at Cheltenham is 1.32 (four winners from 38).

THREE INTERESTING OUTSIDERS

JULY FLOWER

Trainer: Henry De Bromhead. Rating: 142. Jump Index: 7.7. Odds: 20-1.

July Flower looked one to follow when landing the Grade Two 2m novices’ chase at this meeting last year and her final run of the season.

Her next two starts were underwhelming, but hr final effort when a non-staying fourth in a 3m 1f Grade One at Punchestown suggests she is not one to be giving up on. 

She has some unfinished business switching to handicap ranks off a mark in the low 140s for her powerful yard.

NORN IRON

Trainer: Harry Derham. Rating: 137. Jump Index: 7.7. Odds: 25-1.

Non Iron progressed well last season, winning two handicap chases at Sandown in the second half of the campaign before going close in a Listed handicap chase at Punchestown won by Funiculi Funicula (one of eight Willie Mullins-trained runners in the race).

He’s 13lb higher than when last successful but he’s lightly raced for an eight-year-old and there could still be more to come.

NOBLE PARK

Trainer: Nicky Henderson. Rating: 130. Jump Index: 8.4. Odds: 25-1.

Noble Park’s rating rose by 24lb last season, with his jumping key to his progression.

He gained 25 lengths first time up when winning at Hereford and then grabbed another 20 when following up at Lingfield. His six scores ended up being 8.6. 9.0, 7.8, 9.2, 8.6 and 8.7.

Life will be tougher for him this season, off his new mark, and his days of big gains will be much harder to achieve, but he’s a big price for a bold-jumping improver running from the foot of the weights.

Henderson’s strike-rate at the track in the past year is only 8.7%, although that masks the fact that 20 of his 46 runners have won or finished in the first three. His A/E is 0.57.

RaceiQ's top ten jumpers over fences 

Click here for more. Details correct up to November 8, 2026

RaceiQ's top ten jumpers over hurdles 

Click here for more. Details correct up to November 8, 2026

Racing TV encourages responsible gambling - to find out more click here to head to our dedicated website page.