There are some smart horses entered in the Paddy Power Gold Cup that headlines Cheltenham’s November Meeting, but they’ve got big weights to carry. Lower down is ANGELS BREATH who ticks a few boxes for the big Premier Handicap on Saturday, 18 November (2:20).
Now trained by Sam Thomas following a three-year spell on the sidelines from the end of 2019 to the start of this year, the Shantou gelding has slowly been built back up fitness wise by his new handler. Angels Breath is 7lb below his peak rating of 151 for this test.
Runners from Thomas’ Welsh stables are now regulars in big Cheltenham handicap chases like this one. Angels Breath bested First Flow on his bow over fences. It’s that form from some four years ago that gives him claims.
The runner-up progressed out of handicaps and won the Grade 1 Clarence House the following season. First Flow achieved a peak rating of 166. That one demonstrated all his old ability was there when chasing home Boothill in a Premier Handicap at Ascot last month.
Birchdale, a stable companion of Angels Breath at the time, was back in third but later moved to Ireland. He won a valuable handicap when set off well-backed favourite on betting sites at the 2022 Dublin Racing Festival.
Angels Breath Fits Age & Ratings Profile
Following a pipe opener off topweight over hurdles at last month’s Showcase Meeting at Cheltenham, Angels Breath should come on for the run. He conceded almost two stone in weight to the race-fit winner.
If that has blown away the cobwebs, then Angels Breath can make up for lost time. Three of the last seven Paddy Power Gold Cup winners were nine-year-olds like him.
An official mark of 144 is also within the recent ratings band. Four of the last five victors ran off between 142 and 147. With those boxes ticked, Angels Breath is well-handicapped.
The unknown element here is how he will get on in a large field over fences. As an Irish Point-to-Point winner, and with two Grade 2 victories under Rules at Ascot amongst his back form, Angels Breath is a tasty top-price on horse racing betting sites of 20/1 with QuinnBet.
Notlongtillmay Also Appeals
Laura Morgan is a handy trainer, so NOTLONGTILLMAY can’t be ignored on his recent course runs. This seven-year-old son of Malinas won twice at Musselburgh last season and then ran a blinder in defeat at the Cheltenham Festival.
Norlongtillmay chased home Stage Star in the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase, outrunning massive odds of 40/1. The fifth has come out and won a Listed race at Chepstow this autumn.
As Notlingtillmay ran an eye-catching fourth off topweight down in trip at the Showcase Meeting on reappearance, he should come on for that. At a standout 14/1 with bet365, there is also some each way value backing him off an unchanged mark of 154.
Paddy Power Gold Cup Tips
- Angels Breath (E/W) @ 20/1 with QuinnBet
- Notlongtillmay (E/W) @ 14/1 with bet365
