Tranquil Sea could lead Edward O’Grady’s Paddy Power Gold Cup challenge
Having become the first Irish-trained winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham for 29 years, Tranquil Sea could attempt to be the first horse to win the race twice for over 15 years.
Bradbury Star, in 1993 and 1994, was the last of five horses to win the race and Tranquil Sea is one of three runners that trainer Edward O’Grady is considering for the race, entries for which close at noon tomorrow.
Tranquil Sea beat Poquelin by four-and-a-half lengths in last year’s race before winning the Grade Two Newlands Chase at Leopardstown at the end of February. The eight-year-old then returned to Cheltenham to finish ninth in the Grade One Ryanair Chase at the Festival and ended his campaign with a creditable sixth behind Planet of Sound in the Grade One Punchestown Gold Cup in April.
O’Grady is also planning to enter Catch Me, who has top-level form over hurdles and fences, having won the Grade One Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in 2008 and finished third to Pandorama in the Grade One Knight Frank Novices’ Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting last year.
The trainer is also thinking about Osana who proved that he could transfer his impressive form over hurdles to fences with a string of excellent performances, including when third behind Sizing Europe in the Grade One Arkle Challenge Trophy and second to Tataniano in the Grade One Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree.
“Tranquil Sea will be given an entry in this year’s Paddy Power Gold Cup alongside Catch Me and Osana, and the race is a possibility for all three as things stand,” O’Grady said.
“The first half of last season was very good for Tranquil Sea but the weather upset our plans for him. His prep race for the Ryanair Chase was supposed to be at Naas but it was frozen off and was rescheduled a week later. He won there but it was the opposite of a blessing in disguise because it was too close to the Festival.
“I’m still not convinced about what his best trip is. He ran terribly well over three miles and a furlong in the Punchestown Gold Cup when he had a new jockey on him and it was the end of the season. We had messed up with the Festival and he probably wasn’t at his best anyhow, so it was a bit inconclusive.
“Catch Me is supposed to run in the Poplar Square Chase at Naas on Saturday, which Tranquil Sea won last year. It’ll be his first run back from injury and I believe that Captain Cee Bee will be running in the same race, so we’ll see what happens before deciding whether to go to Cheltenham with him.
“Osana was due to run at Wexford on Saturday but he didn’t, so his debut for the season is on hold at the moment. I’m not quite sure when he will race but the unseasonal fast ground has made planning very difficult for the horses.
“The horses are fit and ready but it has been prudent not to run them on the ground, so everything is on hold at the moment and it is unlikely that any of them would have their first run of the season in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. It would be nice to have a runner in the race but the weather is making things very frustrating.”
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