IRISH-trained horses have a poor record in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

When Tranquil Sea won the race in 2009, trained by the late Edward O’Grady, ridden by Andrew McNamara, when he bridged a gap back to the Michael O’Brien-trained Bright Highway in 1980, you thought that more would follow, but they haven’t. Since then, nada. Not one.

Mouse Morris went close with French Dynamite in 2022, and Henry de Bromhead sent out Lets Go Champ to finish third last year, and the Irish challenge this year is strong – five of the 15 declared runners are trained in Ireland – even if none of them is shorter than 9/1 in the market.

It is a real shame that Jagwar was scratched yesterday evening. He would have been one of the most intriguing runners in the race.

He beat Thecompanysergeant by less than three lengths in March, for example, and would meet him on 4lb worse terms.

But Gavin Cromwell’s horse has a real chance, and this is probably more his trip than the three miles of the Kerry National in which he faded to finish sixth at Listowel last time.

Conyers Hill has a real chance too. Paul Nolan’s horse is progressive and he ran well on his seasonal return at Limerick, he travelled really well into his race and he beat all except the race-fit Crowsatedappletart. He will handle the ground too.

Easy value

But the value of the race may be Coming Up Easy. Henry de Bromhead’s horse has made significant progress of late. He won two handicap chases at the end of last season over 18 and 17 furlongs respectively, and he stepped forward again when he won a handicap chase at Killarney in August on his seasonal debut off a mark of 132.

He proved that day too that he could stay two miles and five furlongs over fences, in putting up a career-best performance.

Of course, conditions will be very different today compared to the conditions that he encountered in the spring and in the summer, but he won his maiden hurdle at Limerick in 2024 over two miles and five furlongs on heavy ground. There is every chance that he will be okay on the ground.

He has to compete off a British mark today that is 10lb higher than the Irish mark off which he won at Killarney, but he has raced just five times over fences.

He has the potential to continue his progression. Darragh O’Keeffe is riding out of his skin these days, Henry de Bromhead’s horses continue to be in tremendous form, and it is probable that this has been Coming Up Easy’s target since August at least.

Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap

Earlier in the day, Kelce could be the answer to the Debenham’s Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase. Winner of a three-runner three-mile novices’ handicap chase at Wetherby in March off a mark of 115, Neil Mulholland’s horse ran well in another amateur riders’ handicap chase at Cheltenham’s October meeting on his seasonal return.

Prominent from early that day, up with a good pace, he moved to the front at the third last fence and he was only headed at the last.

He finished just fourth, but he lost two places close home, as lack of a recent run probably told in the end.

He improved from his first run to his second last season, and there is every chance that he will progress again for his seasonal debut this term.

A 2lb hike to a mark of 118 was more than fair, and the highly talented amateur rider Adam Ryan renews his partnership with him.

He is operating at a strike rate of 27% in Ireland this season so far. Kelce is proven on soft ground, and his forward-going style of racing should be an asset.

Kelce, 1.10 Cheltenham, 7/1 (generally), 1 point each-way

Coming Up Easy, 2.20 Cheltenham, 10/1 (generally), 1 point win