Business as usual at Chepstow
The Paul Nicholls-trained 12-year-old, winner of the 1999 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, will be bidding to take Chepstow’s three-mile showpiece for the third time after victories in 1997 and 1998.
Barry Simpson, racing manager to part-owner Sir Robert Ogden, confirmed yesterday: ‘‘I have not spoken to Paul yet but the intention is to run him.’’
See More Business made his reappearance in the Grade One James Nicholson Wine Merchant Championship Chase when second behind More Than A Stroll.
Simpson reports the horse to be in good order after that run last month.
‘‘He’s one of those horses that you have to take things one step at a time,’’ He said.
‘‘He’s been fine since Down Royal. He’s what you would expect for a horse that’s had a lot of tough races but he’s got a terrific constitution and he’s in good form and we will continue to run him while we can.’’
Simpson also had news on the Nicky Henderson-trained Marlborough, who finished ninth behind Be My Royal in last Saturday’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.
He said: ‘‘I think he just didn’t get in the race so you couldn’t really say he was too disappointing really.
‘‘He made mistakes at the first two fences which is hard to recover from and it was a very, very competitive Hennessy.
‘‘He was never really in a challenging position and he used a lot of his reserves in trying to make up for the mistakes which is probably why he didn’t find a lot in the closing stages. He also had a big weight on what I thought was sticky ground.’’
Despite his mid-field finish, Marlborough is reported to still be on target for the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.
‘‘He’s a horse that we shall progress on with and he’s still probably going to go for the King George as there’s not many other options for him,’’ Simpson added.
