Paddy Power Third Looks Set for Boylesports Gold Cup

Hold Em third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup looks set to return to Cheltenham for the Boylesports in December. Extreme distances and heavy going looks the key to this horse as he jumped really well last time out. Hold Em ran a superb race at Cheltenham finding only Tranquil Sea and Poquelin too strong in the extended two and a half-mile handicap chase so the extra furlong will be appreciated by the seven year old.

His trainer Goldsworthy revealed: “The Boylesports.com Gold Cup is the target for Hold Em and he will be going straight to Cheltenham . I was impressed with his run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup - Jamie ( Moore ) gave him a nice positive ride and had him in the first half a dozen the whole way round. Given that the ground conditions weren’t ideal for him, it was an excellent performance.

“He travelled and jumped with tremendous fluency at Ascot but he wasn’t quite as crisp at Cheltenham , which was probably due to the heavy parts of the course. If we could get the polished performance of Ascot back at Cheltenham , then it would make a big difference.

“The sheepskin pieces made him a bit braver going in to his fences, which was costing us a length here or there. Although we couldn’t find anything wrong with his wind, we have had our doubts, so we put a tongue tie on him for the Paddy Power Gold Cup and it obviously worked.

“He is in good heart at the moment and he looks fantastic. He is probably an autumn horse - all of his best form is at this time of year - and he tries his hardest in all of his races.

“The handicapper has kept him on the same mark as his run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, which certainly won’t hinder him. I would be quite excited about his chances in the Boylesports.com Gold Cup, as long as the ground is not too soft.”

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