This weekend sees some great racing from Cheltenham and one of the feature races of the weekend is the Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase and we have an ante-post tip for the race.
Dan Skelton's Protektorat was a smart hurdles horse over 2m4f, and this season made an emphatic start to his chase career, especially on debut at Carlisle when landing a Listed race by seven lengths.
The son of Saint Des Saints was a previous winner at Cheltenham over the smaller obstacles, landing a Listed event in January 2020 and since then has finished third in a Grade Two at the same track whilst running a modest race at the festival in the Coral Cup.
Sent chasing last season he looked to be a different proposition all together and on his chase debut looking special, and franked that form next time out at Cheltenham when landing a four runner Novices' Chase at Prestbury Park.
He showed serious ability that day to win the event by 17 lengths from the smart Southfield Stone and Paint The Dream, with the latter winning numerous races since.
However, after that his season went slightly down hill finishing a weak second of three in the Grade Two Dipper Novices' Chase at Wincanton.
He was then stepped up in trip at Kelso next time out trying three miles out and it did not work, with him coming home a tired 41 lengths second in a three runner race.
The gelding skipped the Cheltenham festival in favour of the Grand National meeting and dropping back to 2m4f he was a superb winner of the Grade One Manifesto Novices' Chase.
He drops back into a Graded Handicap for this event off a mark of 154 and if being the Grade One horse we all think he is, he should still go close in the event giving weight away.
Protektorat being a course and distance winner is also a huge postive and at 11/2 is a good each way bet.