Il Ridoto has been well-supported to give the in-form rider Freddie Gingell another big-race success in this weekend’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Gingell will be bidding to continue his excellent run of form by following up his Grade 2 victory in the Haldon Gold Cup on Elixir De Nutz at Exeter on Friday, as Il Ridoto attempts to kick off his campaign in the perfect possible way.
The son of Kapgarde hasn't been seen since pulling-up in the Topham Handicap Chase at Aintree in April but has some solid form in the book at Cheltenham, including when fourth in this contest twelve months ago.
The seventeen-year-old conditional said: "Paul said to me after the Haldon Gold Cup that I've got a nice one for you on Saturday. It gave me a right buzz being told that I was going to ride Il Ridoto just after winning the Haldon Gold Cup. The day just got better and better.
"He is a good honest horse, and he will give me a real good spin around Cheltenham. He was pulled up over the Grand National fences on his last start, but this will be much more to his liking.
"Paul has got Stage Star in the race as well, so he has a couple of big chances in it. He was fourth in the race last year when Harry [Cobden] rode him but with that weight, I can claim off his back hopefully he will go even closer this year.
"I sat on him once last week and hopefully I will get to school him once or twice this week just to get to know him a bit more and go from there.
"He is quite low in the handicap and with my claim off his back, I think he has a massive chance.
"The Haldon Gold Cup was big, but the Paddy Power Gold Cup is even bigger again. Thanks go to the owners and Paul for letting me have the ride and hopefully, I can reward them."
It has been a tough time for Gingell, who lost his mum Kim Gingell to cancer in May 2020, but having recently celebrated his biggest winner on the track alongside passing his driving test, the talented teenager feels things are starting to move in the right direction.
He added: "The last few years haven't been the easiest, but things are now starting to go right.
"It is a lot better having my own set of wheels as I can go racing by myself now. A big thanks goes to my dad though who has been driving me around.
"I'm excited at the moment as everything is going so well and I'm on a real high so I can't wait, but I'd say by Friday the nerves will be slowly kicking in.
"It was nice to win a race like the Haldon Gold Cup with my uncle Joe [Tizzard] and grandad Colin [Tizzard], but it would be nice to get a big one for Paul now."
Sponsor Paddy Power make Il Ridoto a 7/1 chance from 12/1 for glory on Saturday, with spokesperson Paul Binfield saying: "Il Ridoto has been very well backed today and is still being supported. Paul Nicholls has won this prestigious contest twice before and looks to have two powerful arrows this time in him and the favourite Stage Star.
"However, The Real Whacker remains our current biggest loser and he is still being supported at 7/1 although I'd say we are happy to hold the price, at the moment, given the amount of weight he'll have to carry on his seasonal reappearance. Roughly 50% of the stakes taken on the race are on these three illustrious contenders."
