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Thursday’s racing round-up brings news of the final runners and riders for Saturday’s feature Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham…
Ginny's Destiny heads fifteen declarations as he attempts to give Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden back-to-back victories in the Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.20) at Cheltenham on Saturday. Nicholls and Cobden teamed up to land the prize with 2022 Turners Novices' Chase winner Stage Star twelve months ago and the Ditcheat handler will also be responsible for saddling Il Ridoto. Jamie Snowden's 2022 winner Ga Law will bid to regain his crown, while Dan Skelton's Ryanair Chase hero Protektorat, who finished runner-up in this race three years ago, will have to concede upwards of 12lb to his rivals.
Pascal Bary's illustrious 44-year training career came to an end yesterday when he saddled his final two runners at his home track Chantilly. Bary, who learnt his trade under the watchful eye of Sir Mark Prescott before moving to Francois Boutin, was responsible for the care of many top-class horses such as Six Perfections, Sulamani, Study Of Man and the wondrous Divine Proportions. Speaking to the French racing channel Equidia, Bary said: "I've never bothered trying to get horses handicapped, I treat everyone like they are a good horse and train them accordingly. Obviously, there comes a point when they might not prove up to it. Jean-Louis Bouchard [owner] played a big role early on because he advised me not to bother with handicappers and to specialise in training good horses for the good races."
Connections of Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Lump Sun have revealed he will not line up in the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle. The Dai Thomas-owned six-year-old won the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at Kempton last season before returning to action with a smooth success at Ffos Las. The 10/1 chance, who was due to carry top weight at Prestbury Park, will now have other options on his agenda.
Gidleigh Park looks unlikely to make his chasing debut at Exeter on Monday as dry ground conditions continue to play havoc with the beginning of the jumps season. The Harry Fry-trained six-year-old lost his unbeaten record over hurdles when finishing sixth in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The striking son of Walk In The Park will now drop back in distance for his campaign over fences.
River Tiber has been purchased by a collection of French breeders to stand at Haras de la Huderie in France. The group is made up of Sebastien Desmontils, David Salabi, Guillaume and Camille Vitse, and Jean-Pierre and Guillaume Garcon. The son of Wootton Bassett, who won the Group 2 Coventry Stakes as a two-year-old in 2023, will stand for €5,500 at his first year at stud.