Greatwood Gold Cup: quotes from connections and Video Tip

Last year’s runner-up Vincenzo looks to continue his productive season in the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

Second to Booster Bob in this Grade Three contest 12 months ago, the Sam Thomas-trained eight-year-old took the runner-up spot on his first two starts of this season, chasing home star mare Panic Attack in the Paddy Power Gold Cup before finding only Glengouly too strong in the December Gold Cup.

He got back on the winning trail with a hard-fought success at Ascot in January and Thomas said: “He seems in good form and he’s been a superstar all season for us – ever since jumping fences he’s been a superstar, to be honest.

“Hopefully the handicapper hasn’t quite got to him yet. He’s very, very tough and what you want in a racehorse – he’s honest and genuine and touch wood he jumps well.

“He did a lot wrong at Ascot. He never looked the winner really, but Dylan (Johnston) gave him a great ride that day and I’m hoping going back left-handed will eke out a bit more in him.”

Vincenzo holds an entry in the Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase at the upcoming Cheltenham Festival, but Thomas added: “It’s highly unlikely he’ll go there. We purposely declared him for this thinking it would be a more winnable race than what Cheltenham would be.”

Paul Nicholls has won the Greatwood Gold Cup on a record nine occasions and is this year represented by Twinjets, who won at Fontwell and Newbury in the autumn before unseating Harry Cobden at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

Nicholls told Betfair: “Obviously it was a bit of an unfortunate fall (at Cheltenham), we thought he’d go well that day.

“He loves Newbury and he’s in good form. He’s on a high enough mark now, but he will appreciate the fact that it hasn’t rained too much.

“He has got top-weight, but this is his Gold Cup in my book.”

Other contenders include Gary and Josh Moore’s Blow Your Wad and the Tom Symonds-trained Issam, who notched his third win from six starts over fences with an impressive display at Kempton last time out.

“I think he just really enjoys jumping fences and touch wood up to now his jumping’s been very accurate,” Symonds told Sky Sports Racing.

“I hope there’s more to come from him. He’s a lovely horse, a real smooth moving horse and he’s never really done much wrong – he has incrementally improved year on year since we’ve had him.

“He’s a horse I do believe will stay three miles, I think the track will really suit him and what’s lovely is that Lady Gibbings who owns him also won the inaugural running of the race with Isio all those years ago (2004).”