The first, second, and fourth from last month’s Paddy Power Gold Cup square off again in an effort to try and dethrone last season’s winner, Fugitif.

Who can take this season’s December Gold Cup? Can Il Ridoto win back-to-back Premier Handicaps and go one place better than last season, or will the rise in the weights be enough to stop him?

He and many other rivals come in with strong claims, and I will help you narrow down your shortlist with the ultimate December Gold Cup Runner by Runner Betting Guide.

December Gold Cup Key Trends

✅ 11 of the past 18 winners had contested the Paddy Power Gold Cup (eight finished in the top five)
✅ 14 of the past 20 winners had run nine times or less over fences
✅ 12 of the past 20 winners were French-bred
✅ Eight of the past 12 winners carried 10st 10lb or less

❌ Only one winning outright favourite since 1997
❌ Only one winner over the age of eight since 1993
❌ Only three winners this century hadn’t won or placed at Cheltenham previously
❌ Only four winners this century were rated higher than 150
❌ Irish-trained horses are one from 18 during the past 16 runnings

Nyetimber December Gold Cup Handicap Chase runner by runner betting guide

Now it’s time to take a in-depth look into runners of the Nyetimber December Gold Cup Handicap Chase and the best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.

🏇 4 Fugitif

• Age: 9
• Weight: 11st 2lb
• Form: 13PP-5
• Rating: 150
• Jockey: Sean Bowen
• Trainer: Richard Hobson
• Odds: 11/2

Fugitif, last season’s narrow winner, comes in here on the back of a satisfactory run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month, but there are a few things against him here.

One thing in his favour is that he is rated one pound lower now than when he won this last season, but no outright favourite has won this 1997.

He’s a horse that I haven’t taken to and is one that I will never take to because he is more out than in.

He may go close, but I would be more than willing to take him on in a race that is unlikely to be run at a frantic pace like last season.

✅ Won this last season off a one-pound higher mark
✅ Acts well over course and distance

❌ Needs a very strong pace to be seen at best
❌ He isn’t consistent

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐

🐎 Bet on Fugitif with talkSPORT BET 🐎

🏇 8 Madara

• Age: 5
• Weight: 10st 6lb
• Form: 119-84
• Rating: 140
• Jockey: Harry Skelton
• Trainer: Dan Skelton
• Odds: 6/1

Madara comes in here with a lot to recommend after a very eye-catching run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on his first run for Dan Skelton.

He has winning form at Cheltenham when comfortable beating In Exclsis Deo on this card last season and backed that up by taking the big listed handicap chase at the 2024 Dublin Racing Festival.

That win came off 133, and I would be shocked if this five-year-old didn’t have much more to offer his current mark.

It is all set up for him to put in a massive performance.

He’s a big danger to all.

✅ On the back of an eye-catching run
✅ Has winning form at this track
✅ Should be more to come now with the Skeltons

❌ Five-year-olds don’t have a good record in this race

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️⭐

🐎 Bet on Madara with Sky Bet 🐎

🏇 2 Ga Law

• Age: 8
• Weight: 11st 8lb
• Form: 1P2-22
• Rating: 156
• Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
• Trainer: Jamie Snowden
• Odds: 7/1

He is one of the most consistent horses in training, and he showed that once again when finishing second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month.

He has only been put up one pound for that run, but the handicapper may have a grip on him now as he has never won off a mark this high.

It’s unlikely that they will be able to squeeze more improvement out of this eight-year-old, but he can pick up some place money.

✅ Consistent in top handicaps
✅ Course and distant winner

❌ Looks in the grip of the handicapper

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐎 Bet on Ga Law with Paddy Power 🐎

🏇 5 Il Ridoto

• Age: 7
• Weight: 11st 1lb
• Form: 08P-51
• Rating: 149
• Jockey: Freddie Gingell (3)
• Trainer: Paul Nicholls
• Odds: 7/1

An eight-pound raise in the weights for his Paddy Power Gold Cup win seems harsh, but that should be enough to stop Il Ridoto from winning back-to-back premier handicaps.

He ran well in this last season when he set a frantic pace from the front under Bryony Frost, but I doubt they will want to set those fractions even with the likelihood of a pace battle up front.

It’s hard to see him winning back-to-back races off this mark, but he should show up well for a long way.

✅ Winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup
✅ A close second in last season’s running
✅ His best form is at this track

❌ A career-high mark
❌ Has never won back-to-back races in the UK

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️

🐎 Bet on Il Ridoto with Midnite 🐎

🏇 1 Stage Star

• Age: 8
• Weight: 12st 0lb
• Form: /1P5-4
• Rating: 162
• Jockey: Harry Cobden
• Trainer: Paul Nicholls
• Odds: 7/1

The 2023 Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase winner and last season’s Paddy Power Gold Cup hero comes in here after a more than satisfactory return in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree in October.

He must shoulder top weight here and be capable of it if he returns to his best form.

Winning off 160+ has been done before by his former stable mate, Frodon, so it is not beyond the realms of impossibility.

It’s a big ask, but he has the class and is with the right trainer for this race.

✅ Former Grade 1 winning novice chaser
✅ Finished ahead of The Newest One last time outThree wins at this track

❌ Must shoulder top weight
❌ Needs to find his best form

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐

🐎 Bet on Stage Star with bet365 🐎

🏇 11 Grandeur d’Ame

• Age: 8
• Weight: 10st 2lb
• Form: 14UP-1
• Rating: 136
• Jockey: Brendan Powell
• Trainer: Alan King
• Odds: 9/1

Grandeur d’Ame was an impressive winner on his comeback at Chepstow when comfortably holding off Ga Law in the closing stages.

He only gained four pounds for that win, leaving him on the same mark as when he was fourth in this last season.

His comeback win showed that he has more improvement in him this season, and if he doesn’t have to chase a pace like he did last season, he can finish stronger today.

Grandeur d’Ame is a lively each way player who should be bang there at the finish.

✅ Made an impressive return this season
✅ Acts on any ground

❌ Trainer is not in great form
❌ Has ten lengths to find with Fugitif

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐎 Bet on Grandeur d’Ame with CopyBet 🐎

🏇 7 In Excelsis Deo

• Age: 6
• Weight: 10st 8lb
• Form: U51-PU
• Rating: 142
• Jockey: Bryan Carver
• Trainer: Harry Fry
• Odds: 10/1

Undoubtedly, In Excelsis Deo can still prove to be much better than this mark, but his jumping has become an issue.

His jumping fell to pieces when well fancied for Galway Plate and was eventually pulled up before the last. And just as you think it was going much better in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, he makes a bad mistake four out when starting to make headway.

His chances will depend primarily on whether his jumping holds up. When it does, he should be more than capable of winning off this mark based on his impressive win over course and distance in April, but that is a big if.

✅ Can win off this mark
✅ One of his two wins has come over course and distance

❌ His jumping can be a big issue

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐎 Bet on In Excelsis Deo with SBK 🐎

🏇 9 Gemirande

• Age: 8
• Weight: 10st 2lb
• Form: /550-1
• Rating: 136
• Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
• Trainer: Venetia Williams
• Odds: 12/1

Gemirande got the job done impressively when well backed last time out, but he has been hit with an eight-pound rise in the ratings.

That was an impressive win, and his form over course and distance suggests that he can play a significant role here.

He is best at the early part of the season, so you can expect him to be able to back up his latest performance for a yard that is in flying form.

Gemirande has only been outside the top three on three occasions over fences, making him a big each-way player.

This could be another big Saturday for Venetia Williams.

✅ A dominant display on his seasonal return
✅ At his best at the early part of the season

❌ Will be taken on for the lead

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐎 Bet on Gemirande with BetMGM 🐎

🏇 3 Le Patron

• Age: 6
• Weight: 11st 5lb
• Form: 114P-1
• Rating: 153
• Jockey: Freddie Mitchell (5)
• Trainer: Gary & Josh Moore
• Odds: 14/1

After winning three on the bounce when sent chasing last season, including the Grade 1 Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase, Le Patron’s season fizzled out with two comprehensive defeats at Sandown and the Cheltenham Festival.

But, he looked back to his best when taking apart a handicap chase off 146 on his seasonal return.

That smacked of a horse who has improved for a summer on his back, and this six-year-old should have much more to offer.

He jumps well and finds plenty off the bridle, and given the likely strong pace, this could set up nicely for Le Patron.

He is a bit overlooked in the market.

✅ A second-season novice
✅ Impressive on his comeback
✅ Grade 1 winning novice chaser

❌ Needs to jump with more fluency

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐎 Bet on Le Patron with Paddy Power 🐎

🏇 10 Guard Your Dreams

• Age: 8
• Weight: 10st 2lb
• Form: 00-143
• Rating: 136
• Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
• Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
• Odds: 18/1

Having made a successful chasing debut, Guard Your Dream has since put in two reasonable displays on the old course without looking progressive.

He has won over hurdles on the new course and wouldn’t be out of it if the change to this course could bring about further improvement.

In an open race, he has his chance for a horse that won off 147 over hurdles.

Tactically, he is versatile and can outrun his big odds here.

✅ Well treated on his hurdles form
✅ Runs his best races at Cheltenham
✅ Tactically versatile

❌ Needs to find more improvement for the switch of courses

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐎 Bet on Guard Your Dreams with CopyBet 🐎

🏇 6 Sure Touch

• Age: 8
• Weight: 10st 8lb
• Form: 111-15
• Rating: 142
• Jockey: Kevin Brogan
• Trainer: Olly Murphy
• Odds: 25/1

Having racked up four back-to-back wins from November to July, Sure Touch ran well for a long way in the Grand Sefton without really treating.

Going back to the conventional fences will suit him, but he will need to improve more here if he is to play a part in the finish.

✅ Racked up four back-to-back wins
✅ Will enjoy the ground conditions

❌ Needs to find another jolt of improvement

Star rating: ⭐️

🐎 Bet on Sure Touch with Spreadex 🐎

Nyetimber December Gold Cup Handicap Chase verdict

This is as tight as a December Gold Cup that I can remember. While you can make a case for nearly all the runners, the one who is the most interesting is MADARA.

After the change of stables to Dan Skelton, he made an eye-catching return in the Paddy Power, and with normal improvement from the first run to the second, he is the type of horse that the Skeletons thrive with.

In Excelsis Deo, Le Patron, and Gemirande all have good each-way claims.

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