In-form trainer means Katenko merits Paddy Power respect

Venetia Williams is no stranger to the occasional big-race victory. After all she saddled Mon Mome to win the 2009 Grand National, while Teeton Mill was victorious in both the Hennessy Gold Cup and King George in 1998.

Another triumph on her resume was in the Paddy Power Gold Cup of 1999 with The Outback Way from out of the handicap and this is a race she has another big chance with this year through Katenko.

Katenko is 14/1 to win the Paddy Power Gold Cup and it is the combination of his own potential improvement and the current form of Williams’ runners that make him such a worthy each-way contender.

Of the first 20 horses that Williams sent into action in November, she saddled seven winners and another five to fill each-way positions.

This includes a three-timer at a big Saturday Ascot meeting, with two double figure-priced winners and an impressive handicap success with Kapga De Cerisy at Sandown.

Katenko was certainly a progressive horse last season and this culminated with a 12-length victory in the Murphy Group Chase last time, where he ran away from a solid handicap field.

The fact he is a big horse will stand in his favour at Cheltenham, as the Paddy Power Gold Cup is arguably one of the toughest and most physical in the racing calendar, with the runners almost flat out for the entire race.

Furthermore, Katenko has won his sole start at Cheltenham and his only previous run over 2m4f, while seven of the last 10 victors of the Paddy Power Gold Cup have been seven-year-olds, including five of the last six.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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