EYE ON THE TIGER
A Plus Tard’s Roll face-off
CHELTENHAM Gold Cup runner-up A Plus Tard is on course to clash with Grand National legend Tiger Roll at Aintree next month.
The pair are likely to meet in the Grade One Betway Bowl on the Mildmay course.
The Rachael Blackmore-ridden A Plus Tard ran a blinder to be second to stablemate Minella Indo on Friday.
Trainer Henry De Bromhead has also targeted next season’s Betfair Chase at Haydock as a longterm aim for A Plus Tard.
He said: “The one question about A Plus Tard going into Cheltenham was he’s got so much class, would he get the last two furlongs? But he really did, in fairness to him and wouldn’t he have been a very impressive winner if ‘Indo’ wasn’t there?
“A Plus Tard’s form is ridiculously better on lefthanded tracks, so if he’s well, we’re considering Aintree for him.
“That (going left-handed) limits him, but the race at Haydock could be a lovely race for him in the autumn.”
De Bromhead said Minella Indo could head to the Punchestown Festival in
April. “I look back at the Gold
Cup with disbelief,” he told Racing TV’S Luck on Sunday yesterday.
“Minella Indo kept staying and I’m not sure we’ve seen the half of him – he’s so tough.
“I haven’t really spoken to Barry (Maloney, owner) about plans, but Punchestown would be great if he seems good.”
The first of six winners on the week for De Bromhead and Blackmore was the brilliant mare Honeysuckle in the Unibet Champion Hurdle on Tuesday.
Connections are even thinking of sending her over fences, with a bid to emulate the great Dawn Run – the only horse to win a Champion Hurdle and a Gold Cup – in mind.
“It’s something we’ll have to give a lot of thought to and ultimately it comes down to Kenny (Alexander, owner),” said De Bromhead. “She’s an extremely valuable mare.
“There’s probably a little bit more risk over fences, but without wanting to tempt fate, she goes off loose every Sunday morning in our indoor school and she takes off and goes off jumping for sport.”