Three tips for Paddy Power Gold Cup day: Go for Glory

Read To Return should have won this race 12 months ago in my opinion - he was dropped out by an inexperienced amateur and finished strongly into a six-length fifth. With the very accomplished Finny Maguire in the saddle this time around he's of significant interest from a similar mark to last year.

Read To Return returned from a six-month break on his most recent start at Punchestown and left the impression he'd improve for that outing, travelling well into contention before the lack of a recent run told. 

At his peak Glory and Fortune finished second to Epatante in the 2021 Christmas Hurdle and won the Betfair Hurdle that same season from a rating of 143. He missed all of last season, but in his absence the handicapper has relented - he's now rated 134 - and I liked how he shaped in a Listed event on his comeback a month ago, understandably tiring late on. Conditions will be perfect for him here to make his class tell. 

It's 18 months since Master Richard got his head in front but he's been running well in defeat recently, doing particularly well over this C&D last time when pushed into setting a very strong pace, and I felt he did well to stick on as he did that day, ultimately being beaten less than three lengths. 

He's best when able to dominate and I think he might be able to have the lead to himself in this contest - he has edged down to an attractive mark too.