December Gold Cup: what connections say plus video tip

Richard Hobson admitted it would “mean the world” if stable star Fugitif could become only the second horse to successfully defend the Nyetimber December Gold Cup on Saturday.

The nine-year-old enjoyed a titanic battle with Il Ridoto in last year’s renewal to land the prestigious Grade Three handicap by a short head on the New course at Cheltenham.

That pair will renew their rivalry again this weekend, after Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old came out on top in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month at Prestbury Park, which came two months after Fugitif had wind surgery.

Nicholls remains the only trainer since the race’s inception in 1963 to train the same horse to two victories in the extended two-and-a-half-mile feature, which started life as the Massey Ferguson Gold Cup.

Poquelin – the first and only horse to do so to date – recorded successive victories in 2009 and 2010 before Frodon entered the winner’s enclosure in 2016 and 2018.

Following his fifth-placed finish on his seasonal reappearance on the Old course, Hobson is optimistic Fugitif can retain his crown.

“He’s in good order. He’s where I want him to be,” the trainer said. “He was in need of that run because of the pure size of him.

“He’s a hard horse to get fit first time out in that quality of race and probably dropped himself out a bit far thinking his breathing was going to affect him.

“Now that he knows he can breathe again, he will go out there with a different frame of mind – and he has been at home, to be fair.

“What is the beauty of him on Saturday is that he will be meeting the likes of Il Ridoto fairly now, because he wasn’t for some time. He’s had some battles with him giving heaps of weight away.

“He’s got a chance off his current mark on what he’s performed at and what he’s achieved before.”

Hobson added: “It would mean the world. It means we can go and compete and do the job at the highest level against stables spending millions of pounds with a horse that cost €40,000.”

Olive Nicholls will replace the injured Freddie Gingell on Il Ridoto. Gingell was unseated at Taunton on Thursday and, while he did take a further mount, is not fit enough to take his rides on Saturday.

Nicholls, daughter of former champion trainer Paul, claims 7lb – which her father says was crucial in his coming to the decision.

Bryony Frost had been in the frame for the ride but her commitments to owners Isaac Souede and Simon Munir in France prevented her from coming back to the UK.

“Olive Nicholls, who claims 7lb, is going to ride Il Ridoto tomorrow,” said the Betfair ambassador. “I was keen to take 7lb off him as he is carrying 11lb more than the last day when he won the Paddy Power.

“I was trying to get Bryony over from France to ride him but she wasn’t able to as she has commitments over there, so I just felt if I was going to claim 7lb, I’d rather use my own daughter than anybody else.

“I didn’t think there was any point in claiming 3lb or 5lb, I wanted to take 7lb off and she’s getting plenty of experience now, so she’s going to get the chance.

“He’s a good, straightforward ride, he’s been round Cheltenham more times than most horses. This is a big ride for Olive but she’s extremely looking forward to it.

“All the owners are fine with it, there’s five of them involved and I spoke to them all and they were all happy with the decision, so we’ll give it a go."

Nicholls also runs top-weight Stage Star, another who excels on the track.

“I’m really struggling to split them and think they both have live chances,” he said.

“Stage Star made an encouraging return in the Old Roan at Aintree at a time when our horses were not fully wound up. He was giving a stone to the winner that day and was beaten less than four lengths.

“There are a lot of positives for Stage Star, who has definitely come on for the run, loves good ground and has a great record at Cheltenham.”

Jamie Snowden is confident Ga Law can support his “career-best” run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup with another strong showing on Saturday.

The eight-year-old was four and a half lengths behind Il Ridoto in second despite not being at his fluent best, which gives the Folly House handler reason for optimism of his charge securing a sixth win over fences.

“Ga Law is in great form. He ran a career-best in the Paddy Power, but the handicapper nudged him up a pound, which makes life a little bit trickier for him,” Snowden said.

“We had him in the Peterborough Chase, but obviously it rained so we didn’t declare for that. Touch wood, if it stays dry, this looks the right opportunity for him.

“He’s kind of betwixt and between, as he’s betwixt Grade Twos and these premier handicaps at the moment.

“It was obviously a very creditable run in the Paddy Power and if he can run to that level of form again, he shouldn’t be too far away.”

Madara was fourth in the Paddy Power on his stable debut and Dan Skelton feels switching from the Old course to the New one will aid his charge, who scored here for Sophie Leech last December.

Ladbrokes ambassador Skelton said: “He’s in good form right now – he ran well in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but I think this track suits him better. He actually won around the new track last year, having got beat around the old track – so that’s only a positive.

“I know him a bit better now, as well, and how best to position him in the race, so I’ll have a good chat with Harry (Skelton) and try to get those tactics right. But, based on his form, he’s obviously got a chance.” 

In Excelsis Deo won over course and distance on his last completed race in April and gives Harry Fry hope of a first victory in the race.

Despite pulling up at Galway in July and unseating jockey Bryan Carver in the Paddy Power on his previous two starts, the Dorchester-based trainer believes the unfortunate mistake in the latter could work in his favour.

“He’s schooled really well since and this time we’ll be hoping for a clear round of jumping,” Fry told Grosvenor Sport.

“He looks to be facing plenty of familiar faces again and we think he’s got a fantastic chance looking at the final field.

“Who knows, him not completing at the track on his last outing might mean he didn’t have such a hard race as the others reopposing here, and that might just be a little blessing in disguise.”