Big doubt after JP buys Festival favourite
JP MCMANUS has swooped to buy Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle favourite Corbetts Cross.
But the 7-2 market leader “wouldn’t be certain” to line up at Cheltenham.
The six-year-old earned his place at the head of the betting for the three-mile test with a head victory in the Grade 2 Johnstown Novice Hurdle – the former Eugene O’sullivan trainee was having his first start for Emmet Mullins – over two miles at Naas last Sunday.
The performance caught the eye of Mcmanus (right). Frank Berry, Mcmanus’ racing manager, said yesterday: “He put up a good performance last week – he overcame a shorter trip and drying ground – and his last few races have been good.
“He’s something to look forward to, and you’d be looking forward to him going chasing.” But Berry warned punters to hold off from backing Corbetts Cross for Cheltenham on Friday week until the son of Gamut is a confirmed runner. Bwrry added: “Corbetts Cross is in good form – it’s just up in the air whether he travels or he doesn’t travel. He wouldn’t be certain, but we will be speaking to Emmet about the whole job and where he goes – and if he goes.
“It’s only happened very recently and it hasn’t been discussed where he will go at the minute.”
Davy Russell is expected to stand in for the injured Jack Kennedy aboard Ryanair boss Michael O’leary’s Conflated in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup in 12 days’ time.
Kennedy, who suffered a broken leg in a fall at Naas in January, was ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival after a consultation with medical staff on Friday.
And Russell, who announced his retirement in December only to return to the saddle three weeks later, is in pole position to take the mount on the Gordon Elliott-trained Savills Gold Cup victor, a 12-1 chance for chasing’s blue riband.
“I’m very sorry that Jack couldn’t make it back.
“The doctors were telling Gordon that it was promising,” admitted O’leary’s brother and racing manager, Eddie.
He added: “I haven’t spoken to Gordon yet, but I would assume that Davy is going to ride Conflated.”