Cheltenham date in mind for Roman Flight

ROMAN Flight is under consideration for the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham on December 10.

The David Dennis-trained eight-year-old produced a career-best performance at Newbury last week when he won a two-and-ahalf-mile handicap chase.

He could now step up in class for the Cheltenham Grade Three handicap, in which he would have to shoulder 10st. 9lb.

Dennis said: “Roman Flight has come out of last week’s race fine.

“He went up 2lb. for winning, which is par for the course when you consider the first three were in a bit of a heap.

“He is a good-ground horse, so if the weather stays dry, the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup will be considered.

“He was staying on strongly over two-and-ahalf miles at Newbury and seemed to want every yard of it.

“He was running over two miles at Ascot before that but maybe longer trips are the way to go with him now.”

BetVictor Gold Cup winner Taquin Du Seuil (11st. 12lb.) heads the weights, while the Warren Greatrex-trained Aloomomo (10st. 5lb.) is the ante-post favourite in most lists after a promising reappearance over hurdles at Ascot.

FRENCH challenger Alex De Larredya will attempt to follow compatriot Baracouda by winning the JLT Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on December 17.

Baracouda was a standing dish in the Grade One over three miles, winning the honours four times for trainer Francois Doumen.

Alex De Larreyda, trained by Francois Nicolle, has yet to leave his native land but is a proven classy performer as he showed when winning the Grade One Grand Prix d’Automne earlier this month.

The six-year-old had the Paul Nichollstrained Ptit Zig back in third that day, having finished second to that horse in the French Champion Hurdle in June.

Anthony Bromley, racing manager to owner Simon Munir, said: “The plan is for Alex De Larredya to go over to Ascot for the JLT Long Walk Hurdle. The Long Walk would fit into his programme as the final race before he goes off for a winter break.”