A final decision is expected on Tuesday morning about whether Coneygree will contest Friday’s Gold Cup rather than being kept to novice company at this week’s Cheltenham Festival.
Connections of the eight-year-old, so impressive in three starts over fences so far, have consistently indicated they were minded to take on the challenge of the Gold Cup and it would now be a surprise if they chose the supposedly easier option.
Mark Bradstock, Coneygree’s trainer, said on Monday that the possibility of rain on Wednesday and Thursday also made the Gold Cup more attractive than the RSA Chase two days earlier. Having spoken to Cheltenham’s clerk of the course, Simon Claisse, Bradstock reported: “We are due 7mm of rain before Friday, so we are definitely edging towards the Gold Cup but I will be walking the course very early in the morning.
“We schooled him over 10 fences this morning. He jumped absolutely super. Pretty much the ground is definitely the main issue. I will be there very early, as we have to make the decision by 10am tomorrow morning [declaration time for RSA entries], but we are certainly edging towards the Gold Cup rather than the RSA.
“The Gold Cup is very open and I think there are a good 10 that have got as much of a chance as anything. He’s pretty tough and he will take no prisoners.”
That was a reference to Coneygree’s front-running tactics, which, combined with his excellent jumping, has made him a formidable opponent for his fellow novices. Half the field failed to complete when he won a Grade One at Kempton over Christmas by 40 lengths, when his rivals seemed to suffer for trying to keep up with him.
But the Gold Cup is bound to be significantly more demanding and has not been won by a novice in the 41 years since Captain Christy’s success. The subject of novices taking part in the race became controversial after Gloria Victis suffered a fatal fall shortly after losing the lead in the 2000 renewal.
Tony McCoy got his wish when If In Doubt was confirmed for the RSA, rather than Saturday’s Midlands National. “We looked at the Uttoxeter race and just felt he had plenty of weight, so he’ll go to Cheltenham instead,” said Frank Berry, spokesman for the owner JP McManus.
McCoy is known to have been keen on tackling the Cheltenham race on the horse, an impressive winner of Doncaster’s Sky Bet Chase when last seen. The champion jockey has five rides on day one of his final Festival, most notably Jezki, defending his title in the Champion Hurdle.
A final field of 11 has been declared for Wednesday’s Queen Mother Champion Chase, in which the clash between past winners Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy is regared by many as the highlight of the Festival. The novice Clarcam has been left in the race but his owners, Gigginstown Stud, report that to be a precaution “in case he falls at the first” in Tuesday’s Arkle Trophy.
Gigginstown also took some by surprise when directing Very Wood towards Tuesday’s National Hunt Chase rather than the RSA, in which they have two other fancied runners. Nina Carberry will ride.
