Talking Horses: Unexpected Party primed for big run in Paddy Power Gold Cup
ROCK ON: Jonbon en route to victory at Aintree last season. His Sunday clash with Edwardstone will provide an early-season pointer for the Champion Chase next March. Picture: Healy Racing
The jumps season goes up a notch this weekend and Unexpected Party is fancied to run a big race in Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. The presence of The Real Whacker and Stage Star, Festival winners last March, at the head of the weights makes this a classy renewal and both warrant maximum respect.
The Real Whacker is a spectacular jumper and his short head victory over the otherwise blemish-free Gerri Colombe in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase is obviously top-class form. However, the expectation is that he’ll be contesting the Cheltenham Gold Cup next March so two and a half miles today could be too sharp for him on his seasonal reappearance.
