Nick Luck’s blog: I’m backing Nicholls to score in Paddy Power Gold Cup

BANBRIDGE looks the answer at 15/8 to a smart novice chase to kick off the ITV action on Saturday afternoon (1.45pm). Looking far from the complete article when winning the Martin Pipe, he could hardly have been more assured in landing the odds on his chasing debut at Gowran. His neat accurate jumping was the feature of that performance, and I’d expect him to be ridden boldly here to draw the sting from his rivals. On the pace looks the best place to be this weekend.

IL RIDOTO still looks a surprisingly backable price at 15/2 in the Paddy Power (2.20pm). I’m not sure whether this is due to Paul Nicholls talking up his other runner, or the belief that the Irish runner French Dynamite is a good thing. Either way, I’m convinced the selection is very well-handicapped on his opening run of last season – the only time he faced genuinely good ground. The stable is in irresistible form, and this lightly raced import is sure to have done better with another summer to mature.

SHEARER is the play in the staying handicap hurdle (2.55pm) at 7/2. He’s less flashy than some, but knuckled down well to win here at the Showcase meeting, probably value for a bit more than the winning margin. The handicapper didn’t miss him, but the unexposed runner up has bolted up in an okay race since, and this doesn’t look as deep as you might expect. The current price looks perfectly fair.

BOURBALI is a very big price at 18/1 in the Intermediate Hurdle (3.30pm), but I fancy a little interest each-way. The stable goes well, and this one ran way better than than it reads in a very hot race at Chepstow that has worked out well. He might get into a nice rhythm near the front and last deep into the race now that he’s had a run to sharpen him up. He’ll love the ground.