This week sees Cheltenham take centre stage on the racing front with the excellent two-day December Meeting beginning on Friday. The significant winter fixtures have a habit of being headlined by a Gold Cup of some description, and such is the case with this event. Hot on the heels of the Paddy Power Gold Cup and Coral Gold Cup, the simply named December Gold Cup takes top billing on the Saturday card from Prestbury Park.
Taking place over 2m4½f of the New Course and offering £125,000 in prize money, this year’s race is held in support of The Hunt Family Fund, following the tragic events of 2024. With the days counting down, a round dozen remain in contention, headed by a horse many fancied to claim the Paddy Power Gold Cup here in November.
Jagwar to Strike for Greenall and Guerriero?
First successful with Go Roger Go in 2000 and most recently with Quantitativeeasing in 2011, J.P. McManus has endured a dry spell in this race, with no placed finishers since 2013. If the betting is to be believed, the powerful owner has every chance of landing the hat-trick in 2025 with the Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero-trained Jagwar.
Ever since joining the yard from France in 2023, this son of Karaktar has been labelled as one of the most talented inmates at the Oldcastle operation. A giant of a horse, Jagwar managed to win one of six starts over hurdles but, as his imposing physique suggested, he has improved significantly for tackling a fence. Successful in four of his five chase outings, he is a perfect two from two over this course and distance.
The most recent of those victories saw him forge clear in the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Among the market leaders for the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November, he was ultimately withdrawn due to the unsuitably soft ground. One month on, he is amongst the favourites in the betting for this contest at a general price of 9/2.
Smoke to Add to Skelton’s Cup Collection?
Dan Skelton has yet to win the December Gold Cup, but he has come pretty close – saddling the second in 2019 and 2024. From a raft of possible entries, the seven-year-old Hoe Joly Smoke is the horse tasked with going one better in 2025.
While not quite able to match Jagwar’s Cheltenham record, the mount of Harry Skelton has hit the frame in his two previous visits to Prestbury Park. His most recent Cheltenham outing saw him finish third to stablemate Panic Attack in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Just over six lengths down at the line that day, he may well have finished closer but for making a mistake at the second last.
Getting in off the same mark of 131 here, he should enjoy the extra half-furlong of this event. Having already claimed the Paddy Power Gold Cup and Coral Gold Cup this season, a win for Hoe Joly Smoke would provide Skelton with a spectacular hat-trick of big handicap victories. Also priced at around 9/2, he is joint second favourite in most betting lists.
Third Time Lucky for Vincenzo?
Jagwar and Hoe Joly Smoke boast Cheltenham form figures of 11 and 33, respectively. Sitting squarely between that duo is the Sam Thomas runner Vincenzo, who has filled the runners-up position in his two previous Cheltenham outings.
Following strong support on the day, Vincenzo started as the 100/30f for the Paddy Power Gold Cup and fared best of the rest behind the impressive Panic Attack. He finished just over two lengths ahead of Hoe Joly Smoke that day, but is two pounds worse off at the weights in this contest, suggesting there will be little to separate the duo once again. Never finishing outside the first two in five starts over fences, Vincenzo looks primed to make another bold bid.
Kim Ready to Roque for O’Brien?
Unlike many significant British prizes, the December Gold Cup has consistently escaped the Irish grasp in recent times. Twenty of the 22 editions since 2000 have been won by a British trainer, with the two exceptions being Edward O’Grady’s Go Roger Go (2000) and Michael Winters’ Chatham Street Lad (2020).
The Irish look set to send a two-pronged attack into battle this year in the shape of Gavin Cromwell’s Will The Wise and Kim Roque from the Joseph O’Brien operation. Of that duo, the market just favours Kim Roque. Only joining O’Brien from the French yard of Daniela Mele in October, the five-year-old made an eye-catching debut to snatch second late on at this track in November. Likely open to improvement on only his second start for his new trainer, he is an intriguing contender for King George winning owner Ronnie Bartlett.
Kdeux Saint Fray takes the Bottlegreen Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 🥇#ITVRacing | @JohnnyBurke2 | @honeyballracing pic.twitter.com/u8Tu08oX1Y
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) November 16, 2025
Others to note in a typically competitive renewal include Grand Sefton winner Colonel Harry, and the course and distance winners Il Ridoto and Ga Law. We will find out shortly after 1:50 pm on Saturday who claims the latest Gold Cup on the 2025/26 calendar.