There was a tangible buzz around the Cotswolds this week as Jagwar, the crowd’s darling of Cheltenham, was unveiled as the 6-1 favourite for the £160,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup (In Memory of Edward O’Grady) on Saturday, November 15. Trained by the in-form duo Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, the six-year-old has never tasted defeat at the Home of Jump Racing — and the locals haven’t forgotten it.
When Jagwar last stormed up the Cheltenham hill in March, his rider could barely pull him up before being swarmed by fans at the paddock rail. It was the kind of electric reception reserved for future greats — and one that has clearly resonated with his connections. “He loves the place, and the crowd seem to love him back,” said a beaming Guerriero earlier this week. “You dream of a horse that thrives on that atmosphere. Cheltenham brings the best out of him.”
The Paddy Power Gold Cup, one of jump racing’s most fiercely contested handicaps, will carry extra poignancy this year as it’s run in memory of the late Edward O’Grady, the Irish training legend who saddled 18 Festival winners and captured this very race with Tranquil Sea in 2009.
For Jagwar’s owner JP McManus, the race remains one of the few major Cheltenham prizes his famous green and gold silks have yet to claim. Victory next month would be a fitting addition to an already glittering record.
Challenging Jagwar at the head of the market are Il Ridoto and Caldwell Potter at 8-1. Both hail from the Paul Nicholls powerhouse, which has dominated the contest in recent years — taking back-to-back renewals with Stage Star (2023) and Il Ridoto (2024). Nicholls, seeking a third straight win and his fifth overall, also fields Hitman, the recent Old Roan Chase hero, priced at 14-1.
Ireland, meanwhile, mounts a strong challenge with six entries, including the Listed-winning Coming Up Easy from Henry de Bromhead’s yard and Thecompanysergeant from Gavin Cromwell, who chased home Jagwar at The Festival.
A spokesperson described the 30-strong entry as “a fitting tribute to Edward O’Grady’s remarkable career.” Fans and horsemen alike are hoping the race will deliver both spectacle and sentiment — a Cheltenham showpiece that honours the past while ushering in a new star.
As the November Meeting approaches, one question lingers over Prestbury Park: can Jagwar make it three from three at his beloved track — and gift McManus the Gold Cup he’s long pursued?
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