Rain a boost for Conyers

PAUL Nolan's prayers for rain have been answered which makes his Conyers Hill a very interesting alternative to those at the head of the betting in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

- CAPTAIN WESSEX

The race is being run in memory of legendary Irish trainer Edward O'Grady this year following his death and he was in fact the last Irish-based trainer to win the race back in 2009 with Tranquil Sea.

That seems pretty incredible given how the Emerald Isle has dominated not just the Cheltenham Festival, but most of the major meetings in recent years, but the one sphere they cannot seem to crack is handicap chases.