Thursday, November 5, 2009
GEORGE HOPES TO RAISE TUNE AND TARTAK TO CHELTENHAM PITCH
Meeting: The Open
Dates: Friday, Saturday & Sunday - November 13, 14 & 15
Gates Open: 10.00am Friday & Saturday, 11.00am Sunday
First Race: 1.15pm Friday, 12.50pm Saturday, 1.10pm Sunday
Admission prices from £9. Go to www.cheltenham.co.uk for further information
Tom George is hopeful that Secret Tune will hit the right note in the £100,000 Grade Three Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (2.20pm) at Cheltenham on Sunday, November 15, and has also not ruled out Tartak’s participation in the previous day’s £150,000 Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.35pm), the feature race at The Open.
Secret Tune has been allotted 10st in the lucrative extended two-mile contest and heads to the concluding day of the three-day meeting, having run a fine race behind Treaty Flyer on his return to action at Ffos Las on October 11.
The progressive five-year-old’s best effort to date came when two lengths runner-up to Noble Alan in the Grade Two Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr in April.
George revealed this morning: “We will more than likely go to the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle with Secret Tune. We just would not run him if the ground got very soft but at the moment it should be fine.
“He had his reappearance run at Ffos Las and did well to finish third under top-weight. He’s a small horse and needs to be running off a lighter weight, so that didn’t suit him. We just wanted to get a run into him to blow away the cobwebs. He has come out of it nicely and is ready to run again.
“We had a great time with him earlier in the year, he won twice at Newbury and ran second in the Scottish Champion Hurdle. He was progressive and we just hope he can pick up again from there.”
The Gloucestershire trainer also revealed that Tartak (11st 5lb) is in good form following his disappointing seasonal debut in the Grade Two Old Roan Chase at Aintree on October 24, and could still head to Cheltenham for the Paddy Power Gold Cup over an extended two and a half miles, for which he is 20/1 with the sponsor.
Successful in the Grade Two Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April, Tartak made a series of jumping mistakes last time and trailed home last of eight behind Monet’s Garden at the Liverpool track.
George reported: “Sam Thomas schooled Tartak on Monday and he schooled exceptionally well, as he always has done. He worked well yesterday, so we will see how he is over the next week before any decision is made about the Paddy Power Gold Cup.”
The Open at Cheltenham runs from Friday, November 13, to Sunday, November 15.
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