VICTORY LOOKS WRITTEN IN THE STARS
AHOY Senor has been given the chance to get some more Cheltenham experience as one of 11 entries for the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Prestbury Park on Saturday.
Lucinda Russell’s stable star was second in his sole appearance at the track when chasing home L’Homme Presse at last year’s Festival but went on to reverse that form when scooping Grade One honours at Aintree.
He was last seen fading into fifth in the King George at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day and, although the eight-year-old is joined on the list of possibles by stablemate Corach Rambler, the Kinross-based handler has reported Ahoy Senor will be her main dart at the Grade Two contest — with the Gold Cup in March still the dream.
“Ahoy Senor is in great form,”said Russell. “This is the first choice for him with second choice being the Denman Chase at Newbury. If the ground was very soft or testing we would probably wait for Newbury.
“I was really pleased with his run at Kempton and he seems to be growing up — I was very happy with him. We’ve been held up — the snow and ice has been quite horrible for us. So last week they had a bit of a quiet week, however, we will get quite a bit of work into him this week and see how he gets on.”
Fair
She went on:“I will speak to the owners and see what they are thinking, but I think they would like to give him a bit more experience around Cheltenham which I think is a fair statement.
“The Gold Cup is still the dream and I’m really looking forward to seeing him run again. I think he’s on the up again now and we’ve always thought he was a really good horse.”
Gold Cup second favourite and Grand National hero Noble Yeats could line-up for Emmet Mullins, while Protektorat is the shortest priced British-trained candidate for the blue ribband and this has always been the plan for Dan Skelton’s Betfair Chase winner.
Nicky Henderson has won this twice in the last three years and could rely on Dusart — although the eight-year-old also has the option
THE SPREADEX Sports Best Premier League Odds Classified Stakes field looks similar to the line-up in the Spreadex Sports €40 In Bonuses Classified Stakes last Wednesday in which Atrafan beat Written Broadcast with How Bizarre fourth.
In fact, most of the names should sound familiar as seven of the dozen have run within the last six days.
Atrafan continues in good form and his win here last week sets the standard, but a 4lb penalty today makes life a little harder, and he is far from certain to confirm form with runner-up WRITTEN BROADCAST (6.00) on revised of Doncaster’s Sky Bet Chase, while Frodon won this contest in 2019 and could line-up having missed out on an intended target at Taunton.
Cape Gentleman is an interesting Irish raider, while Cool Cody (Evan Williams), Sounds Russian (Ruth Jefferson), Sam Brown (Anthony Honeyball) and Happygolucky (Kim Bailey) complete the list of entries.
Meanwhile, Editeur Du Gite has been supplemented for the rearranged Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase on Saturday.
Gary Moore’s charge put himself in the Champion Chase picture when causing a shock in the Desert Orchid Chase at
Kempton over the Christmas period.
Record
Although not amongst the candidates for the Grade One contest at
Ascot last Saturday, the nine-yearold has won twice at Prestbury Park and his record in Gloucestershire has seen connections part with £2,250 to add him to the field.
The big clash between Energumene and Edwardstone is still on as both also appeared among the confirmations.
The duo were set to clash at the race’s traditional home of Ascot, but with the Berkshire track’s meeting falling victim to the latest cold snap last Saturday, the pair now get the chance to return to the scene of their greatest triumphs.
Respective trainers Alan King and Willie Mullins have been joined in declaring for the rearragned contest by Joe Tizzard’s Amarillo Sky, who was the only other horse declared for Ascot.
Adding their names to the mix are Venetia Williams’ Funambule Sivola, who was second behind Energumene in the Champion Chase last March, and David Pipe’s Sizing Pottsie. terms, particularly as he has proven vulnerable in a finish previously this all-weather season.
Interest
Furniture Factors is of some interest at a big price. He stays further, but they will go quick here, and he should be running through the beaten ones late if backing up the promise of his latest run. He was going nowhere quickly until tried in a pair of blinkers here last week, and he ran on to finish fourth in a race slightly better than this one.
Both the winner and second had won their previous starts so the form looks believable, and if he can build on last week, he could hit the frame, for all there’s a definite concern that headgear may not have a lasting effect.
I’m not looking any further than TRIGGERED (6.30 — Nap) for the winner in the BetUK’s Acca Club €5 Free Bet
Handicap.
He’s refound his form this winter and dropped a big hint he was on the way back when second to the well-handicapped Politics over C&D three starts ago, the pair nicely clear.
Field
He flew home at Kempton last time out, carving through the field late to grab second.
Billy Loughnane steals another five off his back tonight.