ACCORD CAN LORD IT
Chaser eyes Gold run at Newbury
NEIL MULHOLLAND is bullish about the chance of Lord Accord in Saturday’s Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.
The seven-year-old got back on the winning trail at Cheltenham last month before finding only Frodon too strong in the Badger Beer at Wincanton.
Lord Accord was 11 lengths clear of the rest that day and with good ground to suit, and just 10st 4lb on his back ahead of tomorrow’s declarations, he ticks a few boxes for one of the most competitive handicaps of the season.
Mulholland said: “The plan is to run him on Saturday. He’s been running well and had a good run behind Frodon the other day, so fingers crossed.
“The good ground will suit him, so hopefully the ground will stay at is and it will be fine.
“He went up 3lb for finishing second to Frodon, which is fine. Fingers crossed he can remain competitive and we’ll go from there.
“Richie (McLernon) gets on well with him and all going well he’ll be on board again.” Lord Accord is a 12-1 shot with the race sponsors for Newbury’s weekend feature, with Lucinda Russell’s Corach Rambler heading the market at 5-1. Meanwhile, Hughie Morrison (left) has allayed any ground concerns ahead of Not So Sleepy’s bid to win the Fighting Fifth Hurdle for a second consecutive year at Newcastle on Saturday. The gelding dead-heated with Epatante in very soft ground last November.
The 10-year-old is one of six entries which include Epatante and Constitution Hill. Morrison said: “We have every intention of running, unless the owners tell me not to. “I don’t think the ground will be too bad. We are hoping for a bit of rain in the week.”