Wednesday, December 1, 2010

LAVELLE EYES THE LADBROKE FOR TOCCA FERRO....BGC LONG WALK HURDLE ATTRACTS BIG GUNS AMONG 18 ENTRIES

The five-year-old, an 8/1 chance with Ladbrokes, could bid for a three-timer in the Listed two-mile handicap hurdle following a brace of victories this season in a Listed handicap hurdle over the course and distance in October and the Listed Gerry Feilden Hurdle at Newbury on November 27.

Lavelle revealed today: “Tocca Ferro only ran on Saturday so consequently we will just see how he comes out of that race over the next couple of weeks, but if he’s bouncing, fresh and well, then the intention would be to run him in The Ladbroke.

“I was delighted with him at Newbury - he is getting more streetwise after each run. He did it well at Ascot the time before - he just got to the front and didn’t know what to do. Although he showed a little bit of the same trait again at Newbury, he had got his act together a bit more this time.

“He is going the right way, he is stronger and hopefully a better race will help him again - he is very exciting.”

A cracking entry also includes a strong contingent from the Nicky Henderson yard. The unbeaten Aegean Dawn, the 4/1 market leader with Ladbrokes, saw off the Alan King-trained Mille Chief (9/1) over the course and distance on November 19, General Miller (20/1) landed the Grade Two Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April and Oscar Whisky (16/1) met his only defeat to date when fourth in the Grade One Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The master of Seven Barrows has a fine record in The Ladbroke having scored with Chauvinist (2002), Jack The Giant (2007) and Sentry Duty (2008).

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has engaged Fred Winter Juvenile Novices Hurdle winner Sanctuaire (14/1), Toubab (8/1), Tito Bustillo (16/1) and Advisor (20/1).

The King-trained contingent also includes Salden Licht (10/1), as well as Manyriverstocross (10/1) who was third to the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Get Me Out Of Here (12/1) in last season’s totesport Trophy at Newbury.

Nearby (16/1) landed the Grade Two Elite Hurdle for trainer Philip Hobbs at Wincanton earlier this month before proving no match for Peddlers Cross in the Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle, and the latter’s trainer Donald McCain could rely on the smart novice Drill Sergeant (25/1).

Bothy (10/1) gave Menorah a fright when a narrow second in the Grade Three Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham earlier this month and is one of three Brian Ellison-trained entries alongside Ultimate (50/1) and Palomar (14/1), while David Pipe has engaged last season’s useful novices Notus De La Tour (12/1) and Hunterview (20/1).

There are six Irish-trained entries, headed by the John “Shark” Hanlon-trained Luska Lad (20/1), who landed a hat-trick of Grade Two victories last term and added a Punchestown Grade Three hurdle to his haul in October.

Son Amix (16/1) could line up for trainer Tom Cooper, while no Irish raid on a major handicap would be complete without a contender or two from the yard of Tony Martin, who has engaged Pires (10/1) and recent Down Royal winner Montan (20/1).

Others of note include the Ian Williams-trained Rebel Dancer (33/1), runner-up to Tocca Ferro at Newbury, the Venetia Williams-trained course and distance winner Art Professor (25/1), the Michael Smith-trained Grade One winner Orsippus (40/1), James De Vassey (25/1) and For Non Stop (10/1) from the in-form Nick Williams yard, the Evan Williams-trained Fiulin (33/1) and the smart Bygones Of Brid (33/1), trained by Karen McLintock.

MULLINS TO TAKE IN LONG WALK WITH OSCAR DAN DAN

Oscar Dan Dan could face the awesome presence of Big Buck’s in the £100,000 Grade One BGC Long Walk Hurdle (2.05pm) at Ascot on December 18, the pair being among 18 entries for the prestigious three-mile contest.

The Tom Mullins-trained Oscar Dan Dan landed the Grade One Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse last December and is in fine form at present, having won his only start of the campaign so far, the Grade Two Lismullen Hurdle over two and a half miles at Navan on November 7.

Mullins revealed today: “There is not a lot for him here in Ireland and we thought we would keep our options open by popping him in there and taking a look at the race. It’s definitely on the cards and the ground at Ascot is always fairly nice before Christmas.

“We were very pleased with his win in the Lismullen Hurdle and we think if everything goes well he might have his best year yet.”

The eight-year-old’s biggest victories have come over two and a half miles but Mullins has no fear regarding Oscar Dan Dan’s ability to excel at three miles.

He continued: “Three miles is not a problem for him at all and there might even be a bit of improvement in him over the trip. He ran well over the distance last spring at Punchestown but he was never quite right after he ran at Gowran in the January. It was very bad ground there and he didn’t come back quite as right as he was before Christmas.”

Big Buck’s has made the staying hurdler division his own over the past two years. The Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old is unbeaten in nine starts over the smaller obstacles since unseating Sam Thomas in the 2008 Hennessy Gold Cup, including when posting a ready success over Karabak in last year’s Long Walk Hurdle, which was run at Newbury due to snow at Ascot.

His biggest threat in this year’s race could come from the 2008 winner Punchestowns, who has been given a surprise entry by Nicky Henderson following an impressive first season over fences last term, culminating with victory in a Grade One novices’ chase at Sandown in February.

Other notable contenders include the 2009 Champion Hurdle runner-up Celestial Halo, who represents the same owner/trainer combination of the Stewart family and Paul Nicholls as Big Buck’s.

The progressive Grands Crus may step up in class for David Pipe after a pair of convincing wins in handicap company at Cheltenham and Haydock, while the Robin Dickin-trained Restless Harry could return to Ascot having taken third on his seasonal return in the Grade Two Coral Hurdle on November 20.

Fair Along captured a Grade Two hurdle at Wetherby this season for Philip Hobbs, while Punchestowns’ stable companion, Duc de Regniere, found only Big Buck’s three lengths too strong in the Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.

The Ladbroke - Opening Show from Ladbrokes

4/1 Aegean Dawn

8/1 Tocca Ferro, Toubab

9/1 Mille Chief

10/1 Manyriverstocross, For Non Stop, Pires, Bothy, Salden Licht

12/1 Notus De La Tour, Get Me Out Of Here

14/1 Sanctuaire, Palomar

16/1 Oscar Whisky, Recession Proof, Nearby, Tito Bustillo, Son Amix

20/1 General Miller, Prince Of Fire, Montan, Advisor, Hunterview, Luska Lad, Lancetto

25/1 Karasenir, James De Vassy, Secret Dancer, Art Professor, Westlin' Winds, Oldrik, Drill Sergeant

33/1 Fiulin, Rebel Dancer, Ballybriggan, Bygones Of Brid, Caravel

40/1 Gifted Leader, Orsippus, Washington Irving

50/1 Heron Bay, Alsadaa, Ciceron, Dani's Girl, Dr Livingstone, Toshi, Ultimate

THE LADBROKE
Class 1, Listed Race, £150,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.40pm, Ascot, Saturday, December 18, 2010. For 4yo+ rated 0-150. Two miles. Penalties: after December 5, a winner of a hurdle 6lb. No penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed November 30, entries revealed December 1 (47 entries), weights revealed December 8, five-day confirmation stage December 13, final 48-hour declaration stage 10.00am, December 16. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, November 29.

Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
1100-U ADVISOR (FR) 4 The Royal Ascot Racing Club Paul Nicholls
1/1-11 AEGEAN DAWN 5 Paul Murphy Nicky Henderson
501/0F-6 ALSADAA (USA) 7 Mrs P J Sheen Laura Mongan
11263/1/- ART PROFESSOR (IRE) 6 Jeremy Hancock Venetia Williams
53D5-13 BALLYBRIGGAN (IRE) 6 Stewart Andrew & Jim Shaw John Quinn
1110-2 BOTHY 4 Dan Gilbert Brian Ellison
1214-P4 BYGONES OF BRID (IRE) 7 James Callow Karen McLintock
0210P-B CARAVEL (IRE) 6 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
111-005 CICERON (IRE) 4 Tony Verrier Venetia Williams
01150-0 DANI'S GIRL (IRE) 7 Clive Craig Pat Phelan
3P4-350 DR LIVINGSTONE (IRE) 5 Longmoor Holdings Ltd Charles Egerton
1212 DRILL SERGEANT 5 Tim Leslie Donald McCain Jnr
00-23 FIULIN 5 Robin Geffen Evan Williams
6643-12 FOR NON STOP (IRE) 5 Jared Sullivan Nick Williams
12U14-0 GENERAL MILLER 5 Henry Ponsonby Nicky Henderson
1112-06 GET ME OUT OF HERE (IRE) 6 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
2243-B2 GIFTED LEADER (USA) 5 Gifted Leader Partners Ian Williams
246233 HERON BAY 6 Gwilym Morris Peter Bowen
24101-0 HUNTERVIEW 4 Jo Tracey David Pipe
4/1423-0 JAMES DE VASSY (FR) 5 Jakeman, Barrett, Booth & Ferrand Nick Williams
22-1212 KARASENIR (IRE) 4 Louisville Syndicate Philip Hobbs
410-21 LANCETTO (FR) 5 Mark Gittins James Hartnett IRE
1110-14 LUSKA LAD (IRE) 6 Magestic Syndicate John Hanlon IRE
31030-3 MANYRIVERSTOCROSS (IRE) 5 Mrs M C Sweeney Alan King
B11-52 MILLE CHIEF (FR) 4 McNeill Family Alan King
30100-1 MONTAN (FR) 6 Billy Moffett Tony Martin IRE
2-01115 NEARBY 6 Andy Ash Philip Hobbs
361120- NOTUS DE LA TOUR (FR) 4 D Bradshaw, J Dale, P Deal, J Smee, W Walsh David Pipe
20520-5 OLDRIK (GER) 7 D J Jones Philip Hobbs
2314-60 ORSIPPUS (USA) 4 Sandra Smith Michael Smith
1/1114- OSCAR WHISKY (IRE) 5 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Nicky Henderson
62300-1 PALOMAR (USA) 8 Koo's Racing Club Brian Ellison
00/212-1 PIRES 6 Mrs E A Lawlor Tony Martin IRE
126-U50 PRINCE OF FIRE (GER) 5 J P McManus Charlie Swan IRE
4U13F2 REBEL DANCER (FR) 5 Michael Watt Ian Williams
121 RECESSION PROOF (FR) 4 Vanessa Stone John Quinn
1132- SALDEN LICHT 6 Dai Griffiths Alan King
53113-F SANCTUAIRE (FR) 4 Jared Sullivan Paul Nicholls
P/1350-0 SECRET DANCER (IRE) 5 BPD Ltd Alan Jones
6144-22 SON AMIX (FR) 4 Whitechurch Stud Syndicate Tom Cooper IRE
11300-2 TITO BUSTILLO (FR) 5 Angela Yeoman & Mrs S Larson Paul Nicholls
3140-11 TOCCA FERRO (FR) 5 Sarah Prior and Tim Syder Emma Lavelle
0101F-0 TOSHI (USA) 8 Miss L McFadzean & E Nisbet Jim Goldie
352-41 TOUBAB (FR) 4 Hills of Ledbury (Aga) Paul Nicholls
233-555 ULTIMATE 4 Dan Gilbert Brian Ellison
1240-6 WASHINGTON IRVING (IRE) 5 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
1120-30 WESTLIN' WINDS (IRE) 4 A Allison J Allison P Daresbury W Vestey Charles Egerton

47 Entries
6 Irish-trained


THE LADBROKE HURDLE ROLL OF HONOUR
(1987-2009)
Ascot, Saturday, December 18, 2010
run at Sandown in 2005 (January 7, 2006) and in 2004 (January 8, 2005); run at Leopardstown in January up to & including 2000
Year Winner Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2009 Abandoned due to snow
2008 SENTRY DUTY 6-11-09 Peter Spiller Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty 12/1
2007 JACK THE GIANT 5-11-00 Hanbury Syndicate Nicky Henderson Mick Fitzgerald 9/4F
2006 ACAMBO 5-11-09 David Johnson David Pipe Timmy Murphy 7/1
2005 DESERT AIR 7-10-09 Belinda Harvey Martin Pipe Tom Scudamore 25/1
2004 TAMARINBLEU 5-10-11 Arthur White Partnership Martin Pipe Tony McCoy 14/1
2003 THESIS 5-11-02 1961 Partnership Venetia Williams Brian Crowley 33/1
2002 CHAUVINIST 7-10-00 Bunny & Nick Roberts Nicky Henderson Norman Williamson 15/2
2001 MARBLE ARCH 5-10-11 Martin & Mary Wilson Rory SweetHughie Morrison Norman Williamson 7/1
2000 MANTLES PRINCE 6-9-12 R J McSharry Pat Hughes IRE Fran Berry 12/1
1999 ARCHIVE FOOTAGE 7-11-08 Michael Smurfit Dermot Weld IRE David Evans 25/1
1998 GRAPHIC EQUALISER 6-10-00 BRASK Syndicate Arthur Moore IRE Conor O’Dwyer 5/1F
1997 MASTER TRIBE 7-10-04 Jebel Ali Racing Stables Jenny Pitman Norman Williamson 18/1
1996 DANCE BEAT 5-9-12 Mrs E Queally Jessica Harrington IRE Anthony Powell 12/1
1995 ANUSHA 5-10-02 G A Hoggard Michael Hourigan IRE Shane Broderick 25/1
1994 ATONE 7-10-08 Robert Sinclair Bunny Cox IRE Kevin O’Brien 10/1
1993 GLENCLOUD 5-10-13 D Tierney Noel Meade IRE Gerry O’Neill 20/1
1992 HOW’S THE BOSS 6-10-02 Edward Farrell John Brassill IRE Jason Titley 20/1
1991 THE ILLIAD 10-10-13 Elizabeth Furlong Andy Geraghty IRE Pat McWilliams 7/1
1990 REDUNDANT PAL 7-11-05 P S O’Neill Paddy Mullins IRE Conor O’Dwyer 20/1
1989 REDUNDANT PAL 6-10-00 P S O’Neill Paddy Mullins IRE P Kavanagh 16/1
1988 ROARK 6-11-01 P Leeper Arthur Moore IRE Tom Taaffe 5/1
1987 BARNBROOK AGAIN 6-11-08 Mel Davies David Elsworth Colin Brown 5/2F

THE BGC LONG WALK HURDLE
Class 1, Grade 1, £100,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.05pm, Ascot, Saturday, December 18, 2010. For 4yo+. Three miles one furlong. Weights 11st 7lb, fillies and mares allowed 7lb. Entries closed November 30, entries revealed December 1 (18 entries), five-day confirmation stage December 13, final 48-hour declaration stage 10.00am, December 16. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, November 29.

Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
3630-30 AFSOUN (FR) 8 Mrs J K Buckle Neil King
0023-63 ARCALIS 10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
1121-22 BANJAXED GIRL 6 Jill Scott John Phillips Sarah MacEchern Nigel Twiston-Davies
1/1111-1 BIG BUCK'S (FR) 7 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
11221-1 CAROLE'S LEGACY 6 Paul Murphy Nicky Henderson
244F-F3 CELESTIAL HALO (IRE) 6 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
3211-42 DUC DE REGNIERE (FR) 8 Sir Peter & Lady Gibbings Nicky Henderson
01500-1 FAIR ALONG (GER) 8 Alan Peterson Philip Hobbs
0212-11 GRANDS CRUS (FR) 5 Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds III David Pipe
4/2240-2 KARABAK (FR) 7 J P McManus Alan King
2550-25 KAYF ARAMIS 8 Isobel Phipps Coltman Nigel Twiston-Davies
313P-02 LE BEAU BAI (FR) 7 Glass Half Full Richard Lee
055-000 LOUGH DERG (FR) 10 W Frewen David Pipe
1/2311-0 LUSH LIFE (IRE) 5 Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson
221213- MOURAD (IRE) 5 Teahon Consulting Limited Willie Mullins IRE
12465-1 OSCAR DAN DAN (IRE) 8 Frances Duffin/D Hutton/Sean Corby Tom Mullins IRE
122/115- PUNCHESTOWNS (FR) 7 Judy Wilson Nicky Henderson
21F1-33 RESTLESS HARRY 6 R G Whitehead Robin Dickin

18 Entries
2 Irish-trained

THE BGC LONG WALK HURDLE ROLL OF HONOUR
(1965-2009)
Race run as a handicap prior to 1971
Ascot, Saturday, December 18, 2010 (run at Newbury in 2009, Chepstow in 2005 and Windsor in 2004)
Year Winner Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2009 BIG BUCK’S 6-11-07 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 1/2F
2008 PUNCHESTOWNS 5-11-07 Judy Wilson Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty 3/1F
2007 LOUGH DERG 7-11-07 W Frewen David Pipe Tom Scudamore 14/1
2006 MIGHTY MAN 6-11-07 Joss Hanbury Henry Daly Richard Johnson 11/8F
2005 MY WAY DE SOLZEN 5-11-07 B Windfield, A Longman, J Wright, C Fenton; Alan King Robert Thornton 12/1
2004 BARACOUDA 9-11-07 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR Tony McCoy 8/13F
2003 BARACOUDA 8-11-07 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR Thierry Doumen 2/7F
2002 DEANO’S BEENO 10-11-07 Axom Martin Pipe Tony McCoy 14/1
2001 BARACOUDA 6-11-07 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR Thierry Doumen 2/5F
2000 BARACOUDA 5-11-07 Roger Barby Francois Doumen FR Thierry Doumen 11/4
1999 ANZUM 8-11-07 Old Foresters P’ship Alan King Richard Johnson 4/1
1998 PRINCEFUL 7-11-07 Robert Hitchins Jenny Pitman Richard Dunwoody 11/4F
1997 PADDY’S RETURN 5-11-07 Paddy O’Donnell Ferdy Murphy Norman Williamson 8/1
1996 OCEAN HAWK 4-11-07 Matt Archer/Jean Broadhurst Nigel Twiston-Davies Carl Llewellyn 7/1
1995 SILVER WEDGE 4-11-07 Shirley & Bill Robins Oliver Sherwood Jamie Osborne 7/1
1994 HEBRIDEAN 7-11-07 Peter Deal David Nicholson Adrian Maguire 100/30
1993 SWEET DUKE 6-11-07 Andy Mavrou Nigel Twiston-Davies Carl Llewellyn 7/2
1992 VAGOG 7-11-07 M A Swift Martin Pipe Martin Foster 15/2
1991 Abandoned due to frost
1990 FLOYD 10-11-07 Mike Walsh David Elsworth Graham Bradley 10/1
1989 ROYAL ATHLETE 6-10-08 Gary Johnson Jenny Pitman Dean Gallagher 33/1
1988 FRENCH GOBLIN 5-11-01 Maurice Pinto Josh Gifford Peter Hobbs 3/1
1987 BLUFF COVE 5-10-08 Dickins Ltd Reg Hollinshead Richard Dunwoody 14/1
1986 OUT OF THE GLOOM 5-10-08 Paul Green Reg Hollinshead Peter Scudamore 4/1
1985 MISTY DALE 7-10-08 David Rose Jenny Pitman Phil Tuck 9/4F
1984 KRISTENSON 7-10-08 Ursula Fantasia Roger Fisher Michael Williams 7/2
1983 CRIMSON EMBERS 8-10-11 Pam Smart Fulke Walwyn Stuart Shilston 14/1
1982 MAYOTTE 7-10-11 B Davies Richard Holder Paul Richards 15/8F
1981 Abandoned due to snow
1980 DERRING ROSE 5-11-11 Peter Savill Fred Winter John Francome 7/1
1979 JOHN CHERRY 8-10-11 Milton Ritzenberg Tom Jones Steve Smith Eccles 6/1
1978 KELSO CHANT 6-11-07 Mrs M Richardson Jumbo Wilkinson Steve Charlton 10/1
1977 JOHN CHERRY 6-10-11 Milton Ritzenberg Tom Jones Steve Smith Eccles 11/8F
1976 Abandoned due to frost
1975 LANZAROTE 7-12-05 Lord Howard de Walden Fred Winter John Francome 4/9F
1974 GO BINGO 5-11-12 Guy Reed Sam Hall David Munro 9/4
1973 SOLONING 8-11-08 Mrs C Thornton Fred Winter Richard Pitman 9/2
1972 HIGHLAND ABBE 6-11-12 Mrs K Hankey Les Kennard Mr R Smith 11/1
1971 ST PATRICK’S BLUE 6-11-12 P Aunger David Tatlow Bill Smith 7/2F
1970 ROUGE AUTUMN 6-10-05 Bryan Jenks Fred Rimell Ken White 9/2F
1969 CANDID CAMERA 6-10-06 R F P Ross Ted Goddard Joe Guest 100/8
1968 Abandoned due to waterlogging
1967 Abandoned due to foot and mouth epidemic
1966 SIR EDWARD 6-10-09 R Heaton Ryan Price Josh Gifford 7/2F
1965 MINUTE GUN 8-10-04 Bill Shand Kydd Bill Shand Kydd Richard Pitman 100/8

HOURIGAN HOPING TORNADO CAN TURN TABLES ON JOSH IN DECEMBER GOLD CUP AT CHELTENHAM....KNIGHT CONSIDERING CALGARY OPTIONS

The December Gold Cup is one of the traditional highlights at The International, which takes place over two days at Cheltenham on Friday, December 10 and Saturday, December 11.

Last month’s Paddy Power Gold Cup hero Little Josh has been allotted 11st 4lb for his bid to become the ninth horse to win both races and the fourth to gain the Paddy Power Gold Cup and December Gold Cup in the same season, following on from Pegwell Bay (1988), Senor El Betrutti (1997) and Exotic Dancer (2006).

Runner-up to Little Josh in the Paddy Power Gold Cup was Dancing Tornado, who has been allotted 10st 11lb for the December Gold Cup and is now 3lb better off with conqueror, disregarding jockey weight allowances. Trained in Ireland by Michael Hourigan, the J P McManus-owned nine-year-old came from off the pace and stayed on well to go down by two and three-quarter lengths.

Hourigan commented: “It’s more than likely that Dancing Tornado will return to Cheltenham for the December Gold Cup. We were very pleased with his run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and he came out of the race fine.

“Tony McCoy always said that a big handicap chase at Cheltenham would be the ideal race as they would go a decent gallop. Dancing Tornado would be racing off a higher mark at The International but we will take that on the chin, especially as we will be meeting Little Josh on better terms.

“Hopefully, the racing will be on and his jockey will be decided nearer the time. Tony rode him when he was second in last year’s Kerry National whereas Adrian Heskin would be able to take 5lb off again.”

Nicky Henderson has a strong hand with Paddy Power Gold Cup fourth Mad Max (11st 6lb), dual course winner French Opera (11st 7lb), Working Title (10st 1lb) and Dave’s Dream (10st 11lb), winner of the paddypower.com Handicap Chase at The Open, among the potential contenders.

As well as Poquelin, a strong contingent from Nicholls’ Ditcheat stables includes the exciting novice Robinson Collonges (10st 11lb) and Grade One Feltham Novices’ Chase winner Breedsbreeze (10st 11lb), who last raced in February, 2009.

The David Pipe-trained Great Endeavour (10st 5lb) landed the Grade Three Byrne Group Plate over the course and distance at The Festival in March, defeating the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Sunnyhillboy (10st 2lb), and the pair finished sixth and seventh respectively in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last time.

Henrietta Knight went close to landing the December Gold Cup in 2002 when Foly Pleasant only found Fondmort too good. This year, she could be represented by Calgary Bay (10st 6lb) who has twice tasted victory at Cheltenham, including when taking the Grade Two Dipper Novices’ Chase over the course and distance in January, 2009. The seven-year-old also finished sixth behind Imperial Commander in the Grade One totesport Cheltenham Gold last season and was most recently seen out when runner-up in a graduation chase at Bangor on November 10.

Knight explained today: “The December Gold Cup is a possibility for Calgary Bay at the moment, although a lot will depend on the weather improving ahead of next weekend.

“The race he was second in at Bangor was a very trappy race and Calgary Bay is not really a two-miler - the winner was a lot quicker over that trip - and it is a bit difficult to place him at the moment because he hasn’t really got a distance.

“He won over three miles at Doncaster last season and was also successful over the same trip of the December Gold Cup in the Grade Two Dipper Novices’ Chase. He always runs a good race around Cheltenham and I don’t think that he would mind what the ground was like.”

The 10 Irish-trained entries include the Tony Martin-trained pair of recent Naas winner Psycho (11st 1lb) and Northern Alliance (10st 10lb), as well as the Jessica Harrington-trained Roberto Goldback (11st 5lb), Finger Onthe Pulse (10st 10lb) from the Tom Taaffe yard, the Noel Meade-trained Jered (10st 5lb), Jayo (10st 1lb) and Scotsirish (11st 2lb), both handled by Willie Mullins, the Noel Glynn-trained Gonebeyondrecall (9st 13lb) and Duers (9st 12lb) trained by Paul Magnier.

Others of note include the Nicky Richards-trained Noble Alan (10st 6lb), The Sawyer (10st 5lb) from the Bob Buckler stable and the Donald McCain-trained Sports Line (10st 12lb), placed twice in Grade One novice chases last term when trained in Ireland by Mullins.

Pigeon Island (9st 10lb) defeated French Opera to land the Grade Three Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase at The Festival in March and is another that could represent the Twiston-Davies yard, while the Howard Johnson-trained Prince De Beauchene (10st 1lb), the Henry Daly-trained Pickamus (10st), Summery Justice (10st) from the Venetia Williams stable, the Charlie Mann-trained Moon Over Miami (9st 12lb), and the Pipe-trained Matuhi (9st 12lb) complete the potential contenders for the December Gold Cup.

THE DECEMBER GOLD CUP
Class One, Grade Three, £150,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.30pm, Cheltenham, Saturday, December 11, 2010. For four-year-olds & upwards, two miles & five furlongs. Penalties: after November 28, a winner of a chase 5lb - no penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed November 23, entries released November 24 (32 entries, 2 subsequently scratched), weights revealed December 1, five-day confirmation stage December 6, final declaration stage, 10.00am, December 9. For figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to & including the racing of Monday, November 29.

Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer
212U-25 POQUELIN (FR) 7-11-12 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
6/11121- FRENCH OPERA 7-11-07 Judy Wilson & Martin Landau Nicky Henderson
0/1341-4 MAD MAX (IRE) 8-11-06 Carole Skipworth & Paul Murphy Nicky Henderson
113FB-2 ROBERTO GOLDBACK (IRE) 8-11-05 J P Dunne Jessica Harrington IRE
1F16-11 LITTLE JOSH (IRE) 8-11-04 Tony Bloom Nigel Twiston-Davies
31620-3 SCOTSIRISH (IRE) 9-11-02 Double R Stables Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
011F-41 PSYCHO (IRE) 9-11-01 Exors of The Late C McClure Tony Martin IRE
11/1203- SPORTS LINE (IRE) 7-10-12 Tony Killoran Donald McCain Jnr
124-1F1 ROBINSON COLLONGES (FR) 5-10-11 Mr & Mrs G Calder Paul Nicholls
10/111F/- BREEDSBREEZE (IRE) 8-10-11 Jim Lewis, Markus Jooste, Malcolm King Paul Nicholls
R-32022 DANCING TORNADO (IRE) 9-10-11 J P McManus Michael Hourigan IRE
6/1340-1 DAVE'S DREAM (IRE) 7-10-11 David Murdoch & Jenny Murdoch Nicky Henderson
41P-550 NORTHERN ALLIANCE (IRE) 9-10-10 Irish Rover Syndicate Tony Martin IRE
PFU-130 FINGER ONTHE PULSE (IRE) 9-10-10 J P McManus Tom Taaffe IRE
116-313 NOBLE ALAN (GER) 7-10-06 Craig Bennett Nicky Richards
164-562 CALGARY BAY (IRE) 7-10-06 Camilla Radford Henrietta Knight
1300-50 THE SAWYER (BEL) 10-10-05 D R Fear Bob Buckler
2133F-2 JERED (IRE) 8-10-05 J P McManus Noel Meade IRE
31441-6 GREAT ENDEAVOUR (IRE) 6-10-05 David Johnson David Pipe
15312-0 SUNNYHILLBOY (IRE) 7-10-02 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
55206F- JAYO (FR) 7-10-01 Peter Garvey Willie Mullins IRE
1/201-U5 PRINCE DE BEAUCHENE (FR) 7-10-01 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
20-6114 WORKING TITLE (IRE) 8-10-01 Auld Hayes & Murphy Nicky Henderson
1411-05 PICKAMUS (FR) 7-10-00 Neville Statham & Family Henry Daly
410/1P-1 SUMMERY JUSTICE (IRE) 6-10-00 Mrs H Brown Venetia Williams
0F4112 GONEBEYONDRECALL (IRE) 7-9-13 Noel Glynn Noel Glynn IRE
04P-010 MOON OVER MIAMI (GER) 9-9-12 Safest Syndicate 3 Charlie Mann
505241 DUERS (IRE) 8-9-12 Kate Kelly/Kate Ronan Paul Magnier IRE
133F-12 MATUHI 7-9-12 Willsford Racing Incorporated David Pipe
F510-30 PIGEON ISLAND 7-9-10 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies

30 entries remain
10 Irish-trained

THE FOLLOWING TWO HORSES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: CHAPOTURGEON (FR), NOLAND

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