Friday, October 27, 2000

BEST PRICES FOR NEWMARKET TOMORROW

LATEST WILLIAM HILL ANTE-POST ODDS

RECORD 50 FOR THOMAS PINK GOLD CUP

Paul Nicholls, the Somerset-based trainer, has a very strong entry of five, with See More Business, the 1999 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup victor, joined by Fadalko, the impressive winner of last Sunday's valuable Axminster 100 Desert Orchid South West Pattern Chase at Wincanton, Chepstow scorer Norski Lad, the very promising Ad Hoc and Call Equiname who makes his seasonal debut at Exeter on Tuesday.

Both See More Business and Call Equiname were entered in last year's equivalent race, with the latter running and shouldering topweight of 11st 10lb (he was pulled up). See More Business is again likely to be allotted 12st when the weights are announced on Wednesday.

Nicholls said: "The Thomas Pink Gold Cup is a very attractive prize. I will have a runner - I might have two runners - but which it will be of the five entries will depend on lots of things.

"I wouldn't want to nominate any at this stage but equally I do not rule any out. The weather might play a big part in things this season - normally it is fairly fast ground and you would never consider it for See More Business.

"They are all entered and they have all got to be considered possibles. If they are not in, they cannot run. Call Equiname runs on Tuesday - he's in good order and he's been working nicely, but we just want to see him perform on the track."

Martin Pipe, the champion jump trainer, has made seven entries for the Thomas Pink Gold Cup - Majadou, Upgrade, Tresor De Mai, Blowing Wind, Lady Cricket, Dark Stranger and Exit Swinger.

There are eight Irish entries compared to six for the equivalent race last year. Willie Mullins has two in Its Time For A Win and River Cora, with Jessica Harrington's recent winner Slaney Native, Michael Hourigan's Amberleigh House, Arthur Moore's Feathered Leader, Patrick Sinnott's hat-trick scorer Miles Byrne, Frances Crowley's Moscow Express and Charles Byrnes' progressive Super Franky the others.
Peter McNeile, the Commercial Manager at Cheltenham Racecourse, said today: "We are obviously thrilled to have received such a big entry for the Thomas Pink Gold Cup, the highlight of The Open 2000.

"As well as the record number, the quality of the entries is excellent, with many of the most promising chasers in Britain and Ireland, as well as established favourites, there."

Des Swan, the Managing Director of Thomas Pink, said: "We could not be more pleased with the entries for the Thomas Pink Gold Cup and are really looking forward to the first running on Saturday, November 11."

The Open 2000 happens over three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 10, 11 & 12.

BUSINESS HEADS ENTRIES FOR THOMAS PINK GOLD CUP

Joining See More Business from the Somerset yard of Paul Nicholls are four other entries - Fadalko, Norski Lad, Ad Hoc and Call Equiname. Fadalko put himself in line for a crack at the Thomas Pink Gold Cup after his impressive success at Wincanton on October 22 (where he defeated The Outback Way, Celibate and Native Charm), while Norski Lad made a winning reappearance at Chepstow on October 18. Ad Hoc looked a very useful type when landing his hat-trick in a novices' handicap chase at Ayr towards the end of last season.

The champion trainer Martin Pipe, successful in the equivalent contest with Beau Ranger (1987), Challenger Du Luc (1996) and Cyfor Malta (1998), has seven entries this time around - Majadou, Upgrade, Tresor De Mai, Blowing Wind, Lady Cricket, Dark Stranger and Exit Swinger. Dark Stranger was a most impressive victor at this year's Cheltenham Festival when landing the Mildmay Of Flete Chase by seven lengths over the course and distance, with Native Charm, Inn At The Top, Sir Dante, Feathered LeaderUpgrade and Skycab all behind him. Exit Swinger, impressive in his only chase at Sandown on April 29, looks to be an exciting type.

Venetia Williams landed the equivalent contest 12 months ago with The Outback Way, who is entered again this year along with stable companions Davoski and Bellator. Davoski won in convincing fashion on his seasonal debut at Stratford on October 14 while Bellator was a leading novice chaser last season.

Somerset-based Philip Hobbs, triumphant with Joint Sovereignty in 1989, has entered two this year - Village King and Solvang.

Another trainer successful in the past - Nigel Twiston-Davies, who trained Tipping Tim to win in 1992 - could be represented this year by the novice Corniche who was impressive when landing a two-mile novice chase at Cheltenham on October 25.

Josh Gifford, who had back-to-back victories with Bradbury Star in 1993 and 1994, has entered the useful Skycab this year.

Flaxley Wood was declared an intended runner for the Thomas Pink Gold Cup by trainer Bob Buckler after his success at Cheltenham on October 25, as was the Noel Chance-trained Boardroom Shuffle who finished third that day.

There are eight Irish-trained entries this year, up from six last year and two in 1998. The pick of the Irish raiders would appear to be Jessica Harrington's Slaney Native, who put himself in the frame for a crack at the race when victorious at Gowran Park earlier this month.

THE THOMAS PINK GOLD CUP

BREAKDOWN OF ENTRIES FOR THE THOMAS PINK GOLD CUP BY TRAINER

RECORD OF TRAINERS WITH ENTRIES IN THE THOMAS PINK GOLD CUP 1970-1999

BROTHER BACK TOMORROW

The seven-year old decent fellow gelding has been absent from the track since chipping a bone in his fetlock when pulled up in the Racing Post Chase in February.

Reveley's son Keith stated today: "The injury was just unfortunate, but he's in good form and we're very happy with him.

"We didn't have this particular race in mind be we wanted to get a run into him to give him more experience. All we want now is for decent ground and hope is doesn't rain too much.

"Two-and-a-half miles would be a bit on the short side for him but if the going is soft it might just be right for him tomorrow.

"We have no firm plans for him. We'll see how the season develops and try to keep him sound. He's only seven and has had very little racing."

The full field for tomorrow's contest is:

Flying Instructor - Paul Webber - Jimmy McCarthy
Brother Of Iris - Mary Reveley - Peter Niven
Tresor De Mai - Martin Pipe - Tony McCoy
Tullymurry Toff - Malcolm Jefferson - Graham Lee
Korakor - Tim Easterby - Russ Garrity
Function Dream - Mary Reveley - Tony Dobbin
Native Wit - Ferdy Murphy - Adrian Maguire
Xaipete - Norman Mason - Kenny Johnson
Storm Damage - Paul Nicholls - Mick Fitzgerald
Random Harvest - Mary Reveley - Alan Dempsey
Puget Blue - Mouse Morris IRE - David Casey

JUST THREE RIVALS FOR BUSINESS

Opposition comes from the Peter Beamont-trained pair Bobby Grant and Young Kenny and Sue Smith's The Last Fling.

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

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