Paul Nicholls predicting strong showing from Stage Star in Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham

• Champion trainer backing Stage Star for a big run in Paddy Power Gold Cup
• Nicholls believes forecast of overnight rain will not derail Harry Cobden’s mount
• Stage Star won Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham Festival in March

Star turn champion trainer Paul Nicholls is expecting a big run from Stage Star in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday and says the forecast of significant overnight rain will not derail the chance of Harry Cobden’s mount. 

Stage Star won the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Festival in March before running below par in the Manifesto Chase at Aintree. 

Writing in his Betfair column, Nicholls said: ‘You can put a line through his last start at Aintree which was one race too many after a busy campaign. ‘

‘The Paddy Power has been the target for him since the summer and there are plenty of positives — he is brilliant fresh, having won first time out for the last three seasons. ‘

He likes racing left-handed, will not mind how soft the ground gets and we know he handles Cheltenham.’ 

Patrick Neville-trained The Real Whacker is the other Festival winner in the line-up having won the three-mile Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in March.

Paul Nicholls is backing his horse Stage Star for a big run at Cheltenham in the Paddy Power Gold Cup

Stage Star won the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March with rider Harry Cobden

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