Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Gold run for Percy
that chance. I’ve seen enough to be happy to make the decision. Whether he’s good enough to beat Clan Des Obeaux, Native River or Bellshill, I don’t know.
“But this is the way we have chosen to find out.”
Bookies predict the unusual preparation will see the dual Cheltenham Festival winner lose his place at the head of the Gold Cup market.
Paddy Power cut Clan Des Obeaux to 7-2 (from 4-1) second choice — Presenting Percy is on offer at 3-1 — and the firm’s Paul Binfield said: “They say there’s a fine line between genius and madman — we’ll find out on March 15.” KIMBERLITE CANDY looks a sweet bet in the Eider Chase (2.40) at Newcastle.
After making a successful reappearance at Ayr in November, Tom Lacey’s seven-year-old didn’t come up to market expectations when favourite for the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock three days before Christmas, returning a well-beaten eighth to Daklondike.
But there was much more to like about his third in a valuable handicap chase over three miles at Sandown three weeks ago, in which Richie Mclernon’s mount took third to Classic Ben.
Although feeling the pinch on the run to the Pond Fence three from home, the JP Mcmanus-owned ace stayed on dourly up the hill to be beaten just over two lengths at the post.
The extra yardage here will be in Kimberlite Candy’s favour, and a 2lb rise in the weights shouldn’t stop him from running a big one.
Paul Nicholls enjoyed a bumper return last Saturday with eight winners, and the 10-time champion trainer’s
rates the horse to beat in the first of three Grade 2 contests, the Pendil Novices’ Chase (1.50).
Although beaten by Bags Groove at Wincanton in November, the Kayf Tara seven-year-old is 5lb better off here and took a step forward when runner-up to National Hunt Chase favourite Ok Corral at Warwick on his latest start.
After an impressive obstacles debut at Ludlow at the end of
last month, 2,000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold’s half-brother
gets the nod for the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (2.25), while
is expected to give his opponents 5lb and a beating in the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (3.00). At Lingfield,
enjoys a class edge as he seeks a five-timer in the Group 3 Winter Derby (3.15).
Earlier, better than ever at the age of seven according to British Horseracing Authority figures, gets the Nap vote for the Listed Hever Sprint Stakes (2.05).