VIN SUPERIEUR

UNSTOPPABLE trainer Sam Thomas can conquer the £160,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup with VINCENZO (2.20). The Welshman only has a medium-sized string of racehorses but successfully targeted races like the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton, Kempton’s Ladbrokes Trophy and Welsh Champion Hurdle last season.

- By The Scout (Melissa Jones)

Weeks into the new one, he has his team in terrific form, with five winners and a strike rate of 71 per cent over the past fortnight.

Aged seven, Dai Walters-owned Vincenzo gained useful course experience behind future Grade One scorer Kalif Du Berlais here on New Year’s Day.

My selection was unlucky to be collared by Booster Bob’s freak performance under Sean Bowen in the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury.

Useful yardstick Saint Segal was back in third - a horse who beat one of today’s rivals Il Ridoto on his seasonal reappearance - and Vincenzo is still fairly handicapped off 3lb higher.