Matata tops 19 left in Paddy Power Gold Cup with Meetmebythesea confirmed

Nineteen horses remain in the Paddy Power Gold Cup after Monday's confirmation stage, with Saturday's Premier Handicap at Cheltenham down from 41 at the previous stage. The race is run over 2m4½f at 2.20pm on 14 November, and final declarations are due on Thursday.

Matata heads the weights

Matata, an eight-year-old gelding trained by Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies, is top weight on 12st with an official rating of 155. Madara (11st 11lb), one of three Dan Skelton runners left in, won the Plate at last season's Cheltenham Festival.

Meetmebythesea (11st 10lb) is still in for Ben Pauling, who has confirmed the six-year-old is an intended runner. He won the Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase over course and distance in March and is rated 151. Johnnywho (11st 9lb), last season's Ultima winner for Jonjo and AJ O'Neill, also stays in.

Skelton's other two are Riskintheground and Blueking d'Oroux. Blueking d'Oroux joined the yard in the summer and has not run for 219 days.

Irish interest and notable absentees

Henry de Bromhead has kept in the mare July Flower and Zurich. Paul Nolan has Release The Beast. They are the only Ireland-based trainers left.

Several notable names were not confirmed. They include Gidleigh Park and Jagwar (both rated 155), Paul Nicholls's Regent's Stroll and Twinjets, and Master Chewy. Nicholls is left with Quebecois. Last year's winner, Panic Attack, is not in the race.

Others still in contention include Ben Haslam's Passing Diamond, Jamie Snowden's Torneo and Harry Derham's Norn Iron.

The Paddy Power Gold Cup is the feature on day two of the Cheltenham November Meeting. The meeting runs from 13 to 15 November. The full entries are on the Cheltenham racecard.