2026 Gold Cup

[Lobos]

Ben Pauling reports stable star The Jukebox Man to be in “amazing form” ahead of a planned reappearance at either Ascot or Newbury in the coming weeks.

The seven-year-old won each of his two starts over fences last season including a brilliant Grade One victory in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, but missed the rest of the campaign due to injury.

The Jukebox Man holds an entry in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on November 15, but he looks set to sidestep Cheltenham in favour of either the Ladbrokes 1965 Chase at Ascot the following week or the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury a week after that.

Pauling said: “He’s in amazing form. He probably isn’t going to be ready for the Paddy Power but should be ready for the 1965 and I did chuck him in the Coral Gold Cup as well, which probably isn’t the worst idea if he needs that extra week.

“After that it’ll be very much all systems go for the King George.”

 

[BigL]

Ben Pauling reports stable star The Jukebox Man to be in “amazing form” ahead of a planned reappearance at either Ascot or Newbury in the coming weeks.

The seven-year-old won each of his two starts over fences last season including a brilliant Grade One victory in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, but missed the rest of the campaign due to injury.

The Jukebox Man holds an entry in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on November 15, but he looks set to sidestep Cheltenham in favour of either the Ladbrokes 1965 Chase at Ascot the following week or the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury a week after that.

Pauling said: “He’s in amazing form. He probably isn’t going to be ready for the Paddy Power but should be ready for the 1965 and I did chuck him in the Coral Gold Cup as well, which probably isn’t the worst idea if he needs that extra week.

“After that it’ll be very much all systems go for the King George.”

Any one here think he's good enough to win a king George ?

 

[opatcho]

I’m a huge fan of The Jukebox Man, but that’s all heart!
I don’t think he beat much as a novice and I really don’t like the fact he’s been off so long. Sadly, I think he’ll struggle this season, especially when he comes to running against those from Ireland

 

[Deleted member 4957]

Can't fancy anything strong coming off such a long absence until they proved they've come back as good as they were, and avoid a follow up bounce...

 

[Yosser]

I backed him each way in the Summer at 25s for the King George amongst others. Well worth a stab at that sort of price. His season probably revolves around that race and then go from there

 

[Runragged]

Hacked up last off 127 now 142 and if they're serious about a Hennessy bid that mark is only going North, a win and he'll find himself 150+ and there'll be one or two who, just like he was, will be unexposed and a stone better that their mark.
It's so hard to win multiple big race race handicaps, win one and you effectively rate yourself too high for the next one...

Need a high mark for the National now though with an increase in quality and reduced numbers. Duffle Coat just snuck in off 145 last season so Myretown's mark of 142 is unlikely to be high enough to get in this season.

 

[Lobos]

Need a high mark for the National now though with an increase in quality and reduced numbers. Duffle Coat just snuck in off 145 last season so Myretown's mark of 142 is unlikely to be high enough to get in this season.

Agree. It's just as classy as the Gold Cup these days. The race has changed so much and not for the better IMO. Lost its appeal now to the once a year punters.

 

[Deleted member 4957]

Need a high mark for the National now though with an increase in quality and reduced numbers. Duffle Coat just snuck in off 145 last season so Myretown's mark of 142 is unlikely to be high enough to get in this season.

Yep, agree, but he'll need to be 145+ by early Feb in order to make the National which in all probability rates him too high for the Ultima, not impossible but a hell of alot harder than the task he had last year and still a long way short of what will be needed for a Gold Cup...

 

[BigChaang]

Any one here think he's good enough to win a king George ?

Yes , for me ,.. I really like the way Ben Pauling operates ..
Great Yard in term's of facilities and how modern it is ., and i think B.P. is very open about targets .
I don't think he overhypes his horses . , and i'm pretty sure he think's T.J.M. is one of his best .. .
I think he is being as cautious as he can , by approaching one race at a time .
He said in the interview i saw , that he didn't want to send T.J.M. straight back over 3 miles plus , and that .
the ascot race was a good starting point .. over 2m 5 f. , all being well , then move up in trip .

 

[Deleted member 4957]

Yes , for me ,.. I really like the way Ben Pauling operates ..
Great Yard in term's of facilities and how modern it is ., and i think B.P. is very open about targets .

Do you think his return matches the commitment/investment in the facilities ?

 

[Craigy14]

Caldwell Potter OFTS all, not one I’d backed so not sure if able to get out any bets re here or Ryanair or even King George

 

[Lobos]

Really looking forward to seeing Handstands today. Was really impressed with him last season. Hoping he can bridge the Gold Cup class. Might be a little short for him today but he needs a run before his first big target the Betfair Chase.

 

[Deleted member 4957]

Really looking forward to seeing Handstands today. Was really impressed with him last season. Hoping he can bridge the Gold Cup class. Might be a little short for him today but he needs a run before his first big target the Betfair Chase.

What's your view after that today Lobos ?

 

[Lobos]

What's your view after that today Lobos ?

Very happy. Needed the race. Too short and ground was a little lively. Was a warm up for Betfair Chase. Went exactly as I thought.

 

[opatcho]

Just posted this in another thread

I was a little disappointed with Handstands there

Had to be bumped and looked like he was off and on, whilst hestitate over a few

Gonna have to improve a far bit to be a contender for a top grade 1

Looks like a horse that wants softer ground - I know Ben doesn’t want to run him in the mud but I something like the Betfair Chase over soft, small field, and having a prep, is likely his best chance - or wait for the Cotswolds.

Dunno, I was really annoy, so much so that i was about to remove him from my tracker…… but! I have said that the best time to back a horse this season (in the main) is after a defeat if what looks to be a prep run, so… that’s what I’m going to do. Betfair chase looks like the most obvious - will take a look at whether I can get a price or not

 

[Lobos]

Ben certainly not disappointed. Went as he wished. Decent run, good blow, ready for his first main target. Perfect prep.

PP did push him to 12/1!! for BC but back into 8's now.

 

[Wayward Lad]

Just posted this in another thread

I was a little disappointed with Handstands there

Had to be bumped and looked like he was off and on, whilst hestitate over a few

Gonna have to improve a far bit to be a contender for a top grade 1

Looks like a horse that wants softer ground - I know Ben doesn’t want to run him in the mud but I something like the Betfair Chase over soft, small field, and having a prep, is likely his best chance - or wait for the Cotswolds.

Dunno, I was really annoy, so much so that i was about to remove him from my tracker…… but! I have said that the best time to back a horse this season (in the main) is after a defeat if what looks to be a prep run, so… that’s what I’m going to do. Betfair chase looks like the most obvious - will take a look at whether I can get a price or not

Agree about disappointment

However, maybe we shouldn’t really be disappointed…..

First run of the season, over a trip that looks to be short of what he needs in open company and on ground that could have been softer for him

It’s a long season and to be beaten by a progressive handicapper maybe won’t look so bad by season end?

How did the last years first and second in the GC run first time out over an inadequate trip and what were the media and bookmaker reactions?

Time will tell, but too early to write off methinks

 

[Lobos]

BP on Handstands......

Ben Pauling remains keen on a tilt at the Betfair Chase with Handstands despite his comeback defeat at Carlisle on Sunday.

The winner of three of his four starts over hurdles, the six-year-old also enjoyed an excellent novice campaign over fences last season, winning Grade Two prizes at Ffos Las and Sandown before successfully graduating to Grade One level at the latter venue in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase in February.

Having been pulled up after being badly hampered by a faller at Aintree in the spring, Handstands was a 4-5 favourite for his reappearance in the Colin Parker Memorial Chase – but after taking a while to warm to his task, he was eventually run down by Olly Murphy’s bet365 Gold Cup winner Resplendent Grey, with three-quarters of a length the winning margin.

“He just looked like he was half asleep,” said Pauling.

“It’s funny but first time out last season at Wincanton (fell when beaten) it was on quick ground so we put it down to that, but he looked the same (at Carlisle). He’s there, but the lights weren’t really on.

“He didn’t make any mistakes but he was careful and deliberate at a few (fences) and he must have lost 10 or 15 lengths on the way round jumping slowly.

“When they’ve come to join him and they’ve go racing he’s jumped much better and he’s been literally nabbed on the line.”

Pauling is confident his stable star will be sharper for the run and while a possible rematch with Resplendent Grey in Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup on November 29 is not out of the question, the trainer appears to be favouring an outing in Haydock’s Grade One feature the previous Saturday.

He added: “He’ll come on a million for it and there’s no disasters. He came back A1 with his ears pricked and looked like he hadn’t had a race.

“I don’t think it will change what we’re going to do – we’ll probably still go Betfair and I think he’ll be a lot sharper for it.”

 

[Wayward Lad]

BP on Handstands......

Ben Pauling remains keen on a tilt at the Betfair Chase with Handstands despite his comeback defeat at Carlisle on Sunday.

The winner of three of his four starts over hurdles, the six-year-old also enjoyed an excellent novice campaign over fences last season, winning Grade Two prizes at Ffos Las and Sandown before successfully graduating to Grade One level at the latter venue in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase in February.

Having been pulled up after being badly hampered by a faller at Aintree in the spring, Handstands was a 4-5 favourite for his reappearance in the Colin Parker Memorial Chase – but after taking a while to warm to his task, he was eventually run down by Olly Murphy’s bet365 Gold Cup winner Resplendent Grey, with three-quarters of a length the winning margin.

“He just looked like he was half asleep,” said Pauling.

“It’s funny but first time out last season at Wincanton (fell when beaten) it was on quick ground so we put it down to that, but he looked the same (at Carlisle). He’s there, but the lights weren’t really on.

“He didn’t make any mistakes but he was careful and deliberate at a few (fences) and he must have lost 10 or 15 lengths on the way round jumping slowly.

“When they’ve come to join him and they’ve go racing he’s jumped much better and he’s been literally nabbed on the line.”

Pauling is confident his stable star will be sharper for the run and while a possible rematch with Resplendent Grey in Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup on November 29 is not out of the question, the trainer appears to be favouring an outing in Haydock’s Grade One feature the previous Saturday.

He added: “He’ll come on a million for it and there’s no disasters. He came back A1 with his ears pricked and looked like he hadn’t had a race.

“I don’t think it will change what we’re going to do – we’ll probably still go Betfair and I think he’ll be a lot sharper for it.”

Drifted out to 100/1 on PP and Sky from best price 66/1 beforehand

Another example IMO where media and bookmakers have over reacted and gifted opportunity

Let’s judge this horse on his next runs over trips and ground that better suits him, rather than his first run of the season, over a trip way to short and ground that may have been faster than he wants…..

I doubt there will be many this side of the Irish Sea with better chances of winning the GC come March 2026

 

[Lobos]

One race at a time but if he wins the Betfair Chase then he'll not be 100/1 to win in March. I do think Haydock will really suit him.