A total of 34 entries are revealed today for the AIS December Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday 10th December – day two of The International.
The extended two and a half-mile Premier Handicap chase takes place on the New Course and is sponsored in 2022 by AIS – a Gloucester-headquartered company that specialises in protecting life, infrastructure, equipment and vital assets on land and sea.
Among the entries are Midnight River, who was third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at The November Meeting and Al Dancer, who scored a victory over the Grand National fences in the Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Grand Sefton Handicap Chase on November 5th, when he held on by a nose from Gesskille.
The 13-times champion Jump trainer Paul Nicholls has saddled a record five winners of the contest and he has three entries this time around –Paddy Power Gold Cup fourth Il Ridoto plus Simply The Betts and Broken Halo.
Ireland has taken the December Gold Cup on five occasions, most recently with Chatham Street Lad in 2020. There are three Irish-trained entries in 2022 – Ciel De Neige and Haut En Couleurs from the stable of Ireland’s champion Jump trainer Willie Mullins as well as the Norman Lee-trained Sole Pretender, who has twice finished third in novice company at Cheltenham already this season.
Weights for the AIS December Gold Cup will be revealed on Tuesday 29th November.
AIS December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2m 4f 127y
Cheltenham – Saturday 10th December
Al Dancer (FR) 9 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Sam Thomas
Brief Times (IRE) 6 Ms S. Exell Neil Mulholland
Broken Halo 7 Giraffa Racing - BH Paul Nicholls
Cheddleton 7 Mr P. And Mrs G. A. Clarke Jennie Candlish
Ciel De Neige (FR) 7 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland
Coconut Splash (IRE) 7 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams
Demachine (IRE) 8 West Coast Haulage Limited Kerry Lee
Deyrann de Carjac (FR) 9 Mr J. Law Alan King
Elvis Mail (FR) 8 The Ladies Who N. W. Alexander
Fantastic Lady (FR) 7 Mr E. R. Hanbury Nicky Henderson
Fern Hill (IRE) 7 Cross Foran Harrison Ben Case
Five Star Getaway (IRE) 8 Carl Hinchy and Mark Scott Christian Williams
Frero Banbou (FR) 7 Mr P. Davies Venetia Williams
Fugitif (FR) 7 Mr Carl Hinchy & Dr Emad Hussain Richard Hobson
Gesskille (FR) 6 The Nevers Racing Partnership I Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
Haut En Couleurs (FR) 5 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland
Il Ridoto (FR) 5 Giles, Hogarth, Mason & McGoff Paul Nicholls
Jacamar (GER) 7 Mark & Maria Adams Milton Harris
Janika (FR) 9 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
Kauto Riko (FR) 11 Mr and Mrs J.Dale and Partners Tom Gretton
Knight In Dubai (IRE) 9 Mr & Mrs Ben Houghton Dan Skelton
Magic Dancer 10 The Magic Partnership Kerry Lee
Midnight River 7 Mr Frank McAleavy Dan Skelton
Nassalam (FR) 5 John and Yvonne Stone Gary Moore
Nocte Volatus 7 Lady Cobham and Dauntsey Park Tom Lacey
Numitor 8 Mr Paul G. Jacobs and Wetumpka Racing Heather Main
Shakem Up'arry (IRE) 8 Mr Harry Redknapp Ben Pauling
Silver Hallmark 8 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Fergal O'Brien
Simply The Betts (IRE) 9 Mr David Maxwell Paul Nicholls
Smarty Wild 8 Mr Michael and Mrs Norma Tuckey Philip Hobbs
Sole Pretender (IRE) 8 Mr M. P. Hogan Norman Lee Ireland
Stolen Silver (FR) 7 Walters Plant Hire & Potter Group Sam Thomas
Storm Control (IRE) 9 Mr Will Roseff Kerry Lee
War Lord (GER) 7 The Wychwood Partnership Joe Tizzard
34 entries
3 Irish-trained
