Announcement

**Forced Kin** · 19 March 2012, 02:36 PM

Any worries about Bobs wind playing up again ?

**Forced Kin** · 20 March 2012, 04:17 PM

David Bridgwater is already looking forward to next season with The Giant Bolster following his fantastic run in defeat in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The trainer's pride and joy ran the race of his life in the blue riband to finish second to an inspired Tony McCoy on Synchronised.

Bridgwater has decided against running the seven-year-old again this season but believes there is much to look forward to for the next few years.

"He's come out of the race absolutely fine, he's marvellous," said the Gloucestershire handler.

"He definitely won't be running again this season. We've made that decision and we're sticking to it.

"He's out in the paddock now and we'll be taking the shoes off him before too long and then he can enjoy his holidays.

"We can look forward to next season now and we'll be looking at all the usual races the big guns go for.

"The Haydock race (Betfair Chase), the King George and so on. He won't be running in the Hennessy under top weight, though."

Although The Giant Bolster was sent off a largely unconsidered 50-1 shot, Bridgwater insists he was far from surprised to see his charge run such a mighty race.

"We were obviously delighted with him on Friday. We all want to win, we wouldn't be human if we didn't, but it felt like a winner," he continued.

"I told Tom Scu (Scudamore) before the race he'd be coming down the hill on the bridle, but I wasn't sure what would happen after that.

"He just kept finding and I thought he might be third or fourth before the race.

"You couldn't fault his jumping and it's just a shame he didn't win for Tom and for the owner."

Bridgwater's star turn was over 11 lengths behind Long Run in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury in February, but showed huge improvement to reverse that form at Cheltenham.

"People will say Long Run hasn't run up to form, but I think he has. He's run the same race as he did at Newbury by beating Burton Port," the trainer added.

"We had improved a lot since the Newbury run, but people have always underestimated our horse, which doesn't bother me.

"I said two years ago he was a Gold Cup horse and he's shown everyone he is now. He's exceptionally good.

"He's only a baby still so you'd like to think he could run in the next two or three Gold Cups. If he does, you'd be a brave man to say he wouldn't win one of them."

**Forced Kin** · 24 March 2012, 07:01 AM

Barry G probably on Bobs if they all turn up but Burton Port might be one to keep on the right side of

BURTON PORT might just have bounced in the Gold Cup even though he ran with great credit to finish eight lengths fourth. The reason I think he might have been feeling his comeback at Newbury was that he was finding it hard work for most of the way and it was his courage that kept him involved.

**Rhinestone Cowboy** · 27 March 2012, 02:11 PM

Decent preview below ...Last Installment is the one but absence of trip to Cheltenham a concern.

The coverage of the 2012 Gold Cup revolved around it being the decider between Kauto Star and Long Run, but as is so often the case with these races, it fell to one outside the big two, with Synchronised picking up the spoils after Kauto Star was pulled up in the first circuit. With several promising novices coming through, we could see a widespread changing of the guard next season, and with the Cheltenham Festival over for another year, we take a look at the leading contenders.

Synchronised was a first Gold Cup winner for owner JP McManus and trainer Jonjo O'Neill, as well as only the second win in the blue riband for AP McCoy. Almost exactly two years before winning last week, Synchronised was winning the Midlands National off a handicap mark of just 143, and this, coupled with the fact that he also won a Welsh National, meant that many had him down as a soft-ground plodder.

He was given a masterful ride by McCoy, who kept him within catching distance of the leaders before his stamina kicked into overdrive, and he was two lengths clear and going away on the line. He is entered in the Grand National, and despite having to carry top weight, he would undoubtedly be well in in that race, although there is a concern about how long it takes him to recover from his races, as he had to miss the Irish Hennessy earlier in the season. Nevertheless, it will be hard for connections not to run him if he seems well in himself. He is a best priced 10/1 with Boylesports to win the Gold Cup next year.

Long Run was a hot favourite to win the race for a second time, after his impressive success in 2011, but finished third, having held every chance to win. He twice finished second to Kauto Star this season, in the Betfair Chase and the King George, before recording a narrow success in the Denman Chase at Newbury, and the suspicion remains that he is not the same horse as last season. Nicky Henderson's charge can also be backed at 10/1, this time with Paddy Power, and is the 3/1 favourite with the same firm to win the King George next season.

The current antepost favourite for next year's race is Sir Des Champs, who was ultra-impressive in winning the Jewson Novices Chase at Cheltenham last year. He oozed class under Davy Russell that day, recording a four and a half length success over Champion Court. That race was only over two and a half miles, but he has always raced as if a step up to three miles would suit, and he has now won in back-to-back years at the Festival. He is still unbeaten in Britain and Ireland, and he is in fantastic hands with Willie Mullins. Despite him looking to have all the credentials for the big one next year, he is a general 6/1 shot, which is a short price to be taking about a horse never to have won a Grade 1, in a race which is still a year away.

Nicky Henderson also trains Bobs Worth, who was a good winner of the RSA Chase at Cheltenham last week, beating First Lieutenant by two and a half lengths. Bobs Worth has an impeccable record at Cheltenham, having won four from four at the Gloucester track, and has also won twice at the Festival, after his success in the Albert Bartlett in 2011. Bobs Worth is the current 8/1 second favourite with bet365 for the race next year, and seems sure to appreciate the extra two and a half furlongs of the race next year. Barry Geraghty reports him to be the ideal type for the Hennessy Gold Cup next year.

First Lieutenant is under the same ownership as Sir Des Champs, and cannot have benefited from being very free and pulling very hard in the first half of the RSA. His trainer Mouse Morris always planned to send him straight to Cheltenham after getting Christmas, having got plenty of experience into him before then, and this seemed to pay dividends as he almost certainly ran a career best over fences here. However, it may be that an easy prep run would have helped to knock the freshness out of him. He can be backed at 16/1 with William Hill for next year's Gold Cup, and is likely to run at Punchestown, where he could step out of novices company to contest the Guinness Gold Cup.

Grands Crus was a hot favourite for the RSA after connections seriously considered running in the Gold Cup, and he disappointed, finishing only fourth after looking to be going the best at the top of the hill. Despite the fact that he has since scoped badly, it is difficulty to escape the fact that he looks a non-stayer, which had been a suspicion beforehand. He has never strongly finished out a truely run race over three miles, and although the King George looks like a good target for next season, the Ryanair Chase looks a much more suitable option at the Festival. David Pipe's Grey is a 20/1 shot with Ladbrokes for next year's Gold Cup, and can be backed at 8/1 with Stan James for the King George.

One horse missing from this year's Festival was Philip Fenton's Last Installment, who jarred his tendons when winning the PJ Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown in February. It is difficult to think that he wouldn't have gone close in the RSA, having beaten First Lieutenant by six lengths at Leopardstown at Christmas, and the third place Call The Police over an inadequate trip in February. He is another in the ownership of Gigginstown Stud, with Sir Des Champs and First Lieutenant, and considering that the owners also have Bog Warrior, Quito de la Roque and possibly Weapons Amnesty for next season, it is likely that we will see some of them in England next season. Last Installment can be backed at a best price of 25/1 with William Hill for next seasons race, although it might be better to see that he has recovered from his injury before parting with your money. He will not be seen again before next season, and looks to be the ideal horse for the Hennessy at Newbury.

Another string to Nicky Henderson's bow for next year is Burton Port, who was fourth in this year's renewal having held a chance at the top of the hill. However, Barry Geraghty reports that he may have bounced, with this being his second run back after a long break, saying that the eight-year-old was always struggling. This might be a sympton of Burton Port in general, as he is a slight horse, and might not be at home in large fields, but he could still be progressing and will not be too old for next year's race. He could go for the Grand National, where he would be well in, although his owner Trevor Hemmings also has last year's winner Ballabrigs. He is a 20/1 chance with Paddy Power for the National, and can be backed at 33/1 for next's year Gold Cup with Stan James.

Hidden Cyclone was another to miss this year's Festival, and has always been the apple of his trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon's eye. He was only a length and a quarter behind Sir des Champs in his last start, but there are excuses for that run, as he didn't jump well that day, and Shark's horses were in very poor form at the time. He was a good novice hurdler, but was always likely to make into a better chaser. He was impressive on his debut over fences, and there should be significantly more to come. His pedigree is all stamina so he should be well at home over the Gold Cup trip, and at a best price of 50/1 with Stan James, he could be worth a small investment.

**Super Bobs** · 29 March 2012, 04:14 PM

MORDIN LOVES

SDC

SIR DES CHAMPS STILL SHOWS NO FLAWS

Some years back, when snooker was a popular sport on British TV, the champion was Steve Davies, a player who was so careful and cautious he earned the nickname ‘boring Steve Davies’.

I reckon SIR DES CHAMPS (42) is the equine equivalent of Steve Davies. All sorts of things may happen around him in a race but he never appears to make a mistake and always seems to find a way to come through his rivals and cruise away with the race. He’s done that in all seven of his starts over jumps to date, including last week's Jewson Novices Chase.

For a horse that had already won at the Cheltenham Festival and scored in Grade 2 company on his last two starts Sir Des Champs had a remarkably low profile before last week. I think this is because, like Steve Davies, he doesn’t give reporters anything exciting to write about.

The only time Sir Des Champs attracted any significant press coverage this season was last time out when the runner up blocked his path and he had to switch around him to score. Trainer Willie Mullins told reporters afterwards that he actually made a few slight jumping errors in the race too but is so clever at recovering nobody noticed them.

Thanks to the runner up setting a searching pace, SIR DES CHAMPS (42) had to run faster than he has before when winning the Jewson. But, as ever, he didn't make a single jumping error and never looked in serious trouble. He quickened up in the style of a very smart horse in the closing stages and was still moving strongly crossing the line.

Seeing how full of running he was at the end of such a strongly run two and a half miles it's hard to argue that Sir Des Champs won't get three miles. You could argue that it was premature for the bookies to make him favourite for the 2013 Gold Cup as he has yet to win over three miles. But five of the last eleven Gold Cup winners hadn't done so by this stage of their careers.

**Sefton** · 30 June 2012, 09:21 AM

Connections of Hunt Ball are plotting an ambitious four-race campaign for the most improved chaser in training.
The Paddy Power Gold Cup, followed by the King George VI Chase, a prep race and then the Cheltenham Gold Cup is the programme being considered for the Keiran Burke-trained gelding.

The seven-year-old began his winning spree off a mark of 69 at Folkestone in November and progressed through the ranks in lightning fashion, winning seven of nine starts.

After being successful at the Cheltenham Festival in the Pulteney Land Investments Novices' Handicap Chase, he ended the season with third place in the Betfred Bowl at Aintree in April to earn a rating of 157.

"He's going to go back to Keiran's in a couple of weeks' time and we are basically going to lay him out for the Paddy Power Gold Cup," owner Anthony Knott told At The Races.

"It will take about four months to get him fit, so that's what he's aiming for.

"He's not going to have that many runs. He's only going to have probably four. He'll go for the Paddy Power in the middle of November, then he'll go for the King George.

"We'll then try to find a warm-up race for him in February and get him ready for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

"I've had the horse back on the farm for about three months and I'm worried to death with him. I've only got two more weeks then it's Keiran's job."

**Super Bobs** · 9 July 2012, 08:24 AM

The wheel has turned for Irish hopes in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, says Ronan Groome irishindependent.ie

IN every sport there are cycles. Teams come and go, enjoying success for a period before slipping back into the shadows to rebuild.

When the seven-year-old War Of Attrition led home an Irish 1-2-3 in the 2006 Gold Cup, we thought a new period of dominance had begun, an era of Irish-trained Gold Cup horses. It didn't turn out that way. In fact, the opposite occurred and since that result there have only been nine Irish-trained horses deemed good enough to take their chance in Cheltenham's main event.

This season's renewal of the Irish Hennessy probably best identifies the weakness of our three-mile chaser division. After a lengthy gap of 16 years since Imperial Call won the Hennessy before going on to Gold Cup success, Quel Esprit led home a field that bore an uncanny resemblance to a midweek Grade Two event in Thurles three weeks previously. The omens didn't look good.

We would eventually end up with just two horses in the Gold Cup again, both priced at 100/1.

With success comes great expectations and the lack of a Gold Cup contender is a little disconcerting for the Irish racing fan, given the luxuries afforded in the other divisions.

But maybe the wheel is turning again as a look at next season's Cheltenham Festival ante-post lists -- the stimulator of excitement in National Hunt racing -- will fill you with optimism for the Irish Gold Cup challenge.

Sir Des Champs, First Lieutenant, Flemenstar and Last Instalment are all to the forefront of a new generation. A six-year-old and three seven-year-olds, with an accumulated total of just 21 runs over fences. The future looks bright.

But these sporting cycles don't just start by chance and, in the case of Irish jump racing, the game-changer has come in the form of Michael O'Leary's operation. The Ryanair boss has been Roman Abramovich-like in his pursuit of Gold Cup horses and is seeing the results of the strategy now -- three of the above-mentioned carry the Gigginstown colours.

Having seen his €100,000 take-it-or-leave-it offer for Simonsig turned down after the point-to-point bumper at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting last season, the offer was upped to €150,000 this year, only to be again politely declined. Who would bet against that offer reaching €200,000 next season?

"He's looking for fine big types who might develop into good staying chasers. If you had a horse and it wasn't 16.1 or 16.2 and couldn't carry the weight to run in a Gold Cup, then you wouldn't bother ringing him," said Last Instalment's trainer Philip Fenton.

Since winning the Gold Cup with War Of Attrition, it's all O'Leary has wanted and Irish trainers are reaping the benefits.

That Sir Des Champs was under the scrutiny of a Gold Cup favourite on only his fifth start over fences, as a novice and in his first Grade One, probably gives you an indication of the impression he has made. We didn't learn much more, only that he can stay and that Davy Russell can defy gravity when he needs to. The error at the last was due to complacency more than anything else and should not take away from another highly-satisfying performance.

First Lieutenant is O'Leary's most expensive purchase yet at €250,000. However, the son of Presenting has gone some way already towards repaying that fee. A Neptune Hurdle was merely a bonus for this fellow as he was always going to be a chaser. Produced in impeccable condition for the RSA Chase, the seven-year-old ran a cracker to be second to Bobs Worth and an extended Gold Cup distance would be right up his alley.

Last Instalment made his mark early in the season before succumbing to injury. Described by Fenton as "absolutely designed to jump fences," the seven-year-old is unbeaten over the larger obstacles. Not only that, he is a double Grade One winner.

Flemenstar joins the pack as another highly-exciting horse. After routing his rivals in a Grade One at Leopardstown at Christmas, Peter Casey said among other things that this was a Gold Cup horse.

Connections shrewdly swerved Cheltenham this time round and were rewarded by another breathtaking performance in the Powers Gold Cup. The sky is the limit.

These four are the new generation of Irish staying chasers. Out of the last five renewals of both the Lexus Chase and the Irish Hennessy, disappointingly the titles have stayed at home on only four occasions.

With the added presence of Quito De La Roque, Rubi Light and Pandorama back from the sidelines, this looks set to change next season. We are on the brink of a new cycle

**Rhinestone Cowboy** · 6 September 2012, 07:06 PM

Robert Waley-Cohen believes Long Run has "become a man" as the star chaser sets out on a campaign the owner hopes will end with his charge regaining his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown.
The Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old had looked set to dominate the staying division after winning the 2011 Gold Cup, but last season did not go to plan, as he was beaten by Kauto Star in both the Betfair Chase at Haydock and the King George, and was only a creditable third when defending his Cheltenham title in March.
"He's been back with Nicky a couple of weeks and he went back really looking the part," said Waley-Cohen.
"He was a boy, but now he's become a man. He's matured and he's grown stronger and he's in really good order, so our hopes and dreams are that he'll come back to form of early 2011."
Long Run looks set to follow the same route to the Gold Cup as last season.
"The Betfair Chase at Haydock is the obvious, and most likely, starting point," said Waley-Cohen.
"After that, it will probably be Kempton, Newbury and Cheltenham. That will probably be his season and if we win all four, we won't be complaining.
"It's going to be interesting to see what the competition is going to be like this season.
"Last year's novices are probably going to be his main competition."

**Sefton** · 10 September 2012, 02:02 PM

Left Kauto out cos he was just a freak but dont know what I am left with ...

Dosage :

Contenders

BOBS WORTH (IRE) b. G, 2005 DP = 2-2-16-6-2 (28) DI = 0.75 CD = -0.14 - 10 Starts, 7 Wins, 2 Places, 1 Shows Career Earnings: �179,486

SIR DES CHAMPS (FR) b. G, 2006 DP = 1-1-8-2-0 (12) DI = 1.00 CD = 0.08 - 12 Starts, 8 Wins, 0 Places, 1 Shows Career Earnings: �198,318

LONG RUN (FR) b. G, 2005 DP = 1-0-4-3-0 (8) DI = 0.60 CD = -0.13 - 21 Starts, 13 Wins, 5 Places, 3 Shows Career Earnings: �1,209,737

LAST INSTALMENT (IRE) ch. G, 2005 DP = 1-1-2-2-0 (6) DI = 1.00 CD = 0.17 - 9 Starts, 7 Wins, 0 Places, 1 Shows Career Earnings: �160,722

FLEMENSTAR (IRE) b. G, 2005 DP = 3-2-5-1-1 (12) DI = 1.67 CD = 0.42 - 9 Starts, 6 Wins, 1 Places, 0 Shows Career Earnings: �137,879 ... similar to

IMPERIAL COMMANDER (IRE) b. G, 2001 DP = 3-2-4-2-1 (12) DI = 1.40 CD = 0.33 - 18 Starts, 8 Wins, 1 Places, 1 Shows Career Earnings: �684,698

GRANDS CRUS (FR) gr. G, 2005 DP = 0-0-3-1-2 (6) DI = 0.33 CD = -0.83 - 15 Starts, 7 Wins, 4 Places, 0 Shows Career Earnings: �226,434 (12.950€)

BURTON PORT (IRE) b. G, 2004 DP = 1-4-15-0-0 (20) DI = 1.67 CD = 0.30 - 17 Starts, 7 Wins, 6 Places, 2 Shows Career Earnings: �262,637

FIRST LIEUTENANT (IRE) ch. G, 2005 DP = 1-1-2-4-2 (10) DI = 0.43 CD = -0.50 - 14 Starts, 6 Wins, 3 Places, 3 Shows Career Earnings: �208,421

HUNT BALL (IRE) b. G, 2005 DP = 2-0-17-9-2 (30) DI = 0.54 CD = -0.30 - 13 Starts, 7 Wins, 1 Places, 1 Shows Career Earnings: �73,928

--------------------------

Stepping Up ?

SIZING EUROPE (IRE) b. G, 2002 DP = 2-2-6-0-0 (10) DI = 2.33 CD = 0.60 - 31 Starts, 15 Wins, 7 Places, 3 Shows Career Earnings: �897,597

FINIAN'S RAINBOW (IRE) b. G, 2003 DP = 0-1-7-0-0 (8) DI = 1.29 CD = 0.13 - 14 Starts, 10 Wins, 2 Places, 1 Shows Career Earnings: �461,479

RIVERSIDE THEATRE (IRE) b. G, 2004 DP = 6-2-8-4-0 (20) DI = 1.50 CD = 0.50 - 17 Starts, 10 Wins, 2 Places, 2 Shows Career Earnings: �431,499

Other Gold Cup Winner Dosage Profiles
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DENMAN (IRE) br. G, 2000 DP = 0-1-1-6-2 (10) DI = 0.18 CD = -0.90 - 14 Starts, 13 Wins, 1 Places, 0 Shows Career Earnings: �677,114 (3/08)

BEST MATE (IRE) b. G, 1995 DP = 1-1-10-5-1 (18) DI = 0.64 CD = -0.22 - 22 Starts, 14 Wins, 7 Places, 0 Shows Career Earnings: � 885,112

KICKING KING (IRE) b. G, 1998 DP = 2-0-8-8-2 (20) DI = 0.43 CD = -0.40 - 28 Starts, 12 Wins, 8 Places, 3 Shows Career Earnings: �818,032

SYNCHRONISED (IRE) b. G, 2003 DP = 5-1-24-8-0 (38) DI = 0.90 CD = 0.08 - 20 Starts, 9 Wins, 1 Places, 3 Shows Career Earnings: �510,775

ARKLE (IRE) b. G, 1957 DP = 6-6-4-2-8 (26) DI = 1.17 CD = 0.00 - 35 Starts, 27 Wins, 2 Places, 3 Shows Career Earnings: �95,198

COTTAGE RAKE (GB) G, 1939 DP = 0-0-14-2-0 (16) DI = 0.78 CD = -0.13

NORTONS COIN (GB) ch. G, 1981 DP = 2-0-2-0-2 (6) DI = 1.00 CD = 0.00

**Rhinestone Cowboy** · 26 September 2012, 07:43 PM

Invictus out for season. Neither trainer nor owners kelvin hughes having much luck lately.

**Sprinter** · 9 October 2012, 07:02 AM

HUNT Ball has become a national treasure – or to put it another way, he has emerged as the Frankel of the chasing world.

This time last year no-one had heard of the horse but after seven wins from nine outings the gelding from Keiran Burke's Ash yard near Martock is the name on everyone's lips as the NH season moves towards top gear.

After a summer recuperating at the farm of his Sturminster Newton owner Anthony Knott following that fabulous 2011-12 campaign the seven-year-old has returned to work with Burke enthusing: "Hunt Ball is bigger, stronger and better than ever. He changed in shape and size with every run last season – he's got more of a back-end now, he's thicker in the neck – and what's more he knows he's good too.

"Anthony looked after him well in the summer – when he bought him last year he looked terrible."

Step into his stable and the handsome, muscular bay nearly 17 hands high and with a kind eye stands demurely as though butter wouldn't melt.

But don't be fooled by that laid-back stance because put a saddle on his back and his mischievous, spirited nature emerges – he has dumped both trainer and regular jockey Nick Scholfield as he continues his build-up to the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday, November 17.

Burke said: "Hunt Ball can be a blighter at times – he suddenly whipped round and had Nick on the floor. He's not easy at times and can try to get you off.

"He takes a lot of work because he is such a big horse but he doesn't try that hard at home – something rated about 20 could go past him on the gallops and he'll be just jig-jogging. He came back in mid-July because he doesn't like being out too long and we wanted to give ourselves plenty of time – we want him spot on for Cheltenham.

"He's now doing some hard, fast work and we're very pleased with him.

"We would never have thought he would prove to be as good as he is now. We knew he was well in front of the handicapper but we never dreamt he'd go to 157 – we thought we were pushing our luck a bit at 115.

"Mind you, when I rode him in a novice chase at Cheltenham in April, 2011, he felt a nice horse – we had Balthazar King, who won the cross-country at the last Cheltenham Festival, off the bridle at the top of the hill when we were nowhere near fit and finished fourth.

"It could be that the family are late developers – his full brother has just won in Ireland aged six.

"People may look at what happened last season and think I was a jammy so-and-so but you make your own luck. It wasn't easy to pick out the races and go where we won – it was hard work.

"When we stepped him up he looked even better and he was really impressive at the Cheltenham Festival – though that race is a bit of a blur to me. As for Aintree, he would have won that day if he hadn't run at Kempton Park or Cheltenham."

The Paddy Power is the same trip of an extended two miles and four furlongs that Hunt Ball won over at the Cheltenham Festival and the following race on his schedule will be the three-mile King George VI Chase at Kempton Park over Christmas.

After that plans are fluid. Burke added: "We're not sure where to go after that. We have a couple of options but we won't worry about that yet. As for the Festival there is the Ryanair Chase but most probably it's going to be the Gold Cup – I know he'll stay that trip because he's bigger, stronger and a year older."

At this point Knott interjects: "It'll be the Gold Cup – he's not going anywhere else."

Burke has been taking his celebrity to nearby Ham Hill or Richard Barber's Seaborough gallops and he'll also be heading to the sands at Brean near Burnham-on-Sea – and a racecourse gallop is planned at Wincanton. "He loves going on the lorry – he hops up just like a dog in a car.

**Sprinter** · 9 October 2012, 07:08 AM

HEY Big Spender is back – and with the Cheltenham Gold Cup top of his agenda.

Last winter Colin Tizzard's nine-year-old was in the form of his life and was bound for the Festival showpiece until being ruled out by a leg injury that surfaced days after his impressive win off top weight in a valuable Warwick handicap during January.

But seven months down the line Tizzard was delighted to announce during Owners' Day at his Milborne Port yard on Sunday: "It was only a minor injury, Hey Big Spender has been fired, the leg was scanned on September 1, everything's fine and he has returned to training."

Plans are fluid: "We aim to run him in mid-December and then go for one of the Gold Cup trials – if the ground is heavy, so much the better.

"Should he be ready to run in early December he could even go for the Welsh National again over Christmas – or if it turns out that the Welsh National is his first race he would have a racecourse gallop beforehand.

"He'll be 10 in January and this will be his last chance but this is his year – he has improved every season we have had him and he is at his peak.

"He showed at Warwick over three miles and five furlongs that he is a real stayer. We were half-afraid at trying that trip because we had campaigned him for most of his life at two miles and a half."

The trainer stressed that following his injury this mud-lover is now very much ground dependent and would not be risked unless there was genuine give in the surface.

Whether trainer and owners Garth and Anne Broom of Brocade Racing might make an exception for the Gold Cup on a course that drains with indecent haste these days remains to be seen but if the mud is flying the son of Rudimentary would be in his element.

Tizzard was bitterly disappointed at Hey Big Spender missing Cheltenham last March because the trainer thought that, take away the then-reigning champion Long Run and Kauto Star, his runner would have had an excellent chance of making the frame as the race was not of the highest quality.

As it transpired his opinion looked justified because handicappers Synchronised and The Giant Bolster filled the first two places. In fact last Christmas Hey Big Spender (156) was officially rated higher than Synchronised (155) before the ill-fated Jonjo O'Neill horse rose 12lb for winning the Grade One Lexus Chase in Ireland on December 28.

Cannington Brook (145) may not yet be as highly rated as Hey Big Spender but the eight-year-old has a similar profile in that he revels in bog-like conditions.

"Cannington Brook won twice at Haydock Park last season in bottomless ground where nothing else kept going and he just cantered away with it."

The gelding has been back in work since mid-July and although Tizzard is plotting a return to Haydock for an encore in the prestigious three-mile Tommy Whittle Chase during December the horse is set to go further afield. The trainer said: "Cannington Brook has reached the age where he may go for one of those six-runner graded chases in Ireland – like the Lexus just after Christmas.

"But like Hey Big Spender, he is ground dependent – we'd like it raining all week up to the race. He is a real mid-winter horse – a big, heavy old-fashioned type – and won't run when the ground is simply good.

"He didn't get the three miles and six furlongs when fifth in the Welsh National last season but he might this year. And if he improves this season like he did last season he will be bang there for all the big races.

"He was a big slab of a horse last season but he is more mature now."

After his second Haydock victory by 35 lengths off top weight in a novices' handicap chase over two miles and a half in mid-February Cannington Brook finished out of the frame at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals. "They went flat out all the way in both those races but if the ground had been heavy it would have been a different story."

**mayo** · 14 October 2012, 11:15 AM

China Rock faces a spell on the sidelines after a setback ruled him out of an intended run at Gowran Park last weekend.

The nine-year-old signed off last season with an impressive victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup and trainer Mouse Morris had been looking forward to seeing his charge return in the PWC Champion Chase.

However, China Rock had to be withdrawn after going lame and he might not be back in competitive action until the Festive period.

"He's lame. He should be OK but he'll be out for a while," said the trainer.

"I'd be hoping he'll be back for Leopardstown (at Christmas). It's not the old injury, he's just clipped his joint. Hopefully he'll be OK."

Morris was still represented in last weekend's Gowran Park feature by First Lieutenant, who was beaten into fourth by Sizing Europe.

"He's come out of the race fine and I think he'll come on a ton for the run," said Morris.

"He was very rusty on the day but he should improve a lot and you would hope he'll go for the Nicholson (JNwine.com Champion Chase) in Down Royal next."

**Old Vic** · 25 October 2012, 12:11 PM

Last Instalment is still on target to return to action some time in the new year.

Trainer Philip Fenton has been delighted with his recuperation over the summer months from the tendon injury which prevented him running at the Cheltenham Festival.

Before injury struck, Last Instalment had stated his case for being the best staying novice chaser in Ireland, with victories in two Grade Ones suggesting the sky was the limit.

"He's in good shape but I wouldn't have thought he'd be running until January time," said Fenton.

"He came back to me in mid-September and he's done lots of road work.

"Crucially his tendons seem fine at the moment, that's the main thing.

"We haven't yet got as far as picking out a race for him, I expect we'll have a sit down in the next six to eight weeks and pick out a target."

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