For all the dominance of the iconic emerald-green and gold-hooped silks – spanning hundreds of Cheltenham winners, multiple Gold Cups, Champion Hurdles, and Grand Nationals – the Paddy Power Gold Cup remains one of the few high-profile jump racing prizes to elude billionaire owner JP McManus.
Despite fielding elite chasers in November’s showcase handicap year after year, luck has often deserted the green-and-gold army in this 2m4f test.
McManus’s most recent attempts in the 2024 renewal highlighted the raw nature of the contest: the talented In Excelsis Deo unseated his rider early on, while top-weight Janidil laboured home to finish a distant 7th.
Can JP McManus Break Paddy Power Gold Cup Duck In 2026?
However, the 2026 renewal, which will be live on ITV Racing, presents perhaps his strongest double-pronged assault to date.
McManus heads to Prestbury Park boasting two front-rank fancies – Meetmebythesea and Johnnywho – both fresh off victorious campaigns that culminated in glorious Cheltenham Festival triumphs in March 2026.
Meetmebythesea (trained by Ben Pauling) leads the betting as the pre-race favorite.
The progressive six-year-old stormed to victory in the Grade 2 Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at the 2026 Festival, proving his liking for Cheltenham’s stiff finish.
He returns on Saturday rated 12lbs higher.
Johnnywho, another March 2026 Festival winner in the McManus colors – having landed the Ultima Chase there earlier this year.
Leading home a JP 1-2 in the race, with Jagwar just 1/2 a length back in second.
The 9yold is returning rated just 4lbs higher and has since run a blinder to be 4th in the 2026 Aintree Grand National in April.
And is trained by the Jonjo O’Neill yard, who know a thing or two about this race – winning it three times in the past.
Paddy Power Gold Cup Race Details
- Event: Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
- Track: Cheltenham Racecourse (Old Course)
- Date & Time: Saturday, 14th November 2026 at 2:20 PM GMT
- Distance: 2 miles, 4 furlongs and 44 yards (2m 4½f)
- Prize Money (Purse): £160,000 total purse (approx. £91,120 to the winner)
- TV Coverage: Live on ITV4 and Racing TV
2026 Paddy Power Gold Cup Leading Ante-Post Runners & Odds
- Meetmebythesea – (JP McManus) Ben Pauling 7/2 Fav
- Madara – Dan Skelton 5/1
- Blueking d’Oroux – Dan Skelton 11/2
- Quebecois – Paul Nicholls 11/2
- July Flower – Henry De Bromhead 10/1
- O’Moore Park – Martin Keighley 10/1
- Zurich – Henry De Bromhead 10/1
- Norn Iron – Harry Derham 16/1
- Release The Beast – Paul Nolan 16/1
- Torneo – Jamie Snowden 16/1
- Johnnywho – (JP McManus) Jonjo & AJ O’Neill 20/1
- Matata – Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies 25/1
- Passing Diamond – Ben Haslam 25/1
- Guard Your Dreams – Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies 33/1
- Moon d’Orange – Christian Williams 40/1
- Issam – Tom Symonds 50/1
- Riskintheground – Dan Skelton 66/1
- Dunkerque – Jennie Candlish 66/1
- Classic Maestro – Jennie Candlish 66/1
Note: Odds are subject to change and final runners out on Thursday 12th November.
WATCH: Panic Attack winning the 2025 Paddy Power Gold Cup
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