PADDY POWER GOLD CUP BETTING: BARBERS SHOP IN JACK THE GIANT OUT

The Paddy Power Gold Cup is getting closer and closer to post time and a number of controversial factors have made the betting action more intense- and even more lucrative. Yesterday it was announced that one of the key horses, Jack the Giant, may not be racing thanks to the recent heavy rains that made his trainer a bit nervous about the horse's safety. Jack the Giant is still recovering from ligament damage and hasn't raced in ten months. Barbers ShopShould Jack the Giant not race, it looks distinctly like Barbers Shop (owned by the Queen herself) could factor into the equation. Stablemates with Jack the Giant, the word could come that Barbers Shop is set for the Gold Cup if he is withdrawn from a planned race on Friday. Weather ForecastA recent article in the Times spoke with Simon Claisse, the clerk of the course at Cheltenham. He stated that the weather should leave the ground 'no worse than good to soft, with some soft patches'. The rain is supposedly letting up after Wednesday so things could definitely be shifting into Barbers Shop's favour.