STRONG LINE UP FOR THE BET365 GOLD CUP
03/03/2010
The first show of entries for the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown Park on Saturday 24 April has now been released. The last major British jumps race of the season has attracted a strong line up both in terms of quality and quantity with 116 horses being entered for the Grade 3 contest.
Top of the list is Kauto Star who would be returning to the Surrey track for the first time since the second of his two Tingle Creek wins in 2006. The ten year old has been at his imperious best this season after a nail biting nose victory over Imperial Commander in the Betfair Chase, which was swiftly followed by a breath taking decimation of the King George field at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. To have a horse of his calibre entered in the race certainly whets the appetite for the remainder of the season. The pick of the rest of Paul Nicholls’ hand include last year’s Hennessy runner up and Grade 1 Lexus winner What a Friend, recent Aon Chase victor and current Grand National favourite Tricky Trickster and My Will who has been placed twice in this contest in 2006 and 2007.
Of the other big stables David Pipe is represented by King George runner up Madison Du Berlais, the ever green Our Vic who won the Peter Marsh Chase in January and 2008 Grand National winner Comply Or Die. Jonjo O’Neill’s principal contenders appear to be Can’t Buy Time and Theatrical Moment.
Phillip Hobbs is responsible for the only past winners of the race to have been entered - Lacdoudal was victorious back in 2006 and Monkerhostin now a veteran at 13 and winner of the race two years ago. The trainer’s other notable entries include Kornati Kid and Fair Along.
Of the Irish raiders the Dessie Hughes pair of Siegemaster and Rare Bob catch the eye as well as Michael Hourigan’s Church Island and Thomas Mullins’ Chelsea Harbour.
Numerically the entries are the highest in recent years and overshadows last year’s entry of 87.
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Contact: Sarah-Jane Muirie
Tel No: 020 7385 8819
