Abbey bids for Gold Cup ticket
The popular 11-year-old caught the imagination when leading from pillar-to-post in the Scottish Grand National last April and will bid to continue his progress up the ranks in the recognised Gold Cup trial.
Since joining Howard Johnson’s County Durham stable, Grey Abbey has landed four races on the bounce and is as low as 20-1 for the blue riband on March 18.
“The ground will be spot on for him and if he gets into a rhythm he will annihilate them tomorrow,” said Johnson. “The horse is fine and is on a great racing weight.”
Grey Abbey has not been seen on the track since inflicting a three-length defeat on last year’s Gold Cup runner-up Sir Rembrandt in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in November.
“The plan has always been to give Grey Abbey a break. There has been nothing wrong with him, he had his heart and back checked on Wednesday and he looks in good order,” added Johnson.
Among the grey’s rivals is Cheltenham specialist Therealbandit, who heads back to his second home for a second attempt at taking top honours in the Pillar.
A faller in the Grade Two contest last year, the Martin Pipe-trained eight-year-old has won four times at Prestbury Park and will be out to add to that tally today.
Following a disappointing seasonal bow over hurdles, Therealbandit went on to land a smooth success in a Cheltenham handicap, but he fluffed his lines last time out when only seventh in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.
“We are trying to put his run at Kempton behind us as he was very disappointing and nothing came to light,” said owner David Johnson.
“The way the race should unfold tomorrow will suit him. Grey Abbey is likely to set a good pace along with Ollie Magern, so on the face of it we shouldn’t have any excuses - we will either be good enough or not.”
The only runner to be taken out of the Pillar at yesterday’s final declaration stage was Sir Rembrandt, who has failed to get his head in front in three starts this term.
Ollie Magern, winner of the Grade One Feltham Chase at Christmas, represents Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Royal Auclair, runner-up to Therealbandit at Cheltenham in December, is Paul Nicholls’ sole entry, while the Peter Bowen-trained Ballycassidy will have his second start of the season at Prestbury Park.
Completing the line-up is Irish raider Cloudy Bays and the 99-rated Strong Magic.
Meanwhile, Royal Rosa has been given a clean bill of health by Howard Johnson ahead of his return to action after a nine-month lay-off at Cheltenham today.
A leading player in his novice season, the six-year-old gave crack stayer Iris’s Gift a race when they clashed at Aintree last April, going down by two and a half lengths.
He will have his first start of the campaign when facing 10 rivals in the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle.
“He is fit and has done nothing wrong,” his County Durham-based handler said today.
“He went a bit off a fortnight ago so I slackened off on him, but Graham Lee came and rode him out the other day and said the horse was ready.
“We weighed him and he is on a good weight. He looks a picture and the ground will be fine - although a drop of rain wouldn’t go amiss.”
Well Chief heads the betting for the Victor Chandler Chase despite having to concede upwards of 15lb to his nine rivals.
It is a task even owner David Johnson believes is onerous, despite the crack two-miler showing top-class form on his second season over fences.
The six-year-old put up a sterling effort when coming home hot on the heels of Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop in the Tingle Creek Trophy last month, but took an uncharacteristic tumble in the Castleford Chase last time out.
Now he has to shoulder 11st 10lb in today’s £110,000 handicap.
“It is a big task to give upwards of 20lb to Thisthatandtother, having beaten him two lengths last year, but if he is as good as we think he is then we expect him to run a big race,” said Johnson.
Well Chief is no stranger to his rivals today, having beaten Thisthatandtother at Aintree last April and just been touched off by Armaturk - who was giving him 1lb and receives 18lb tomorrow - on his seasonal debut in November.
“Strictly on the book we have a bit to do, even though he did run so well at Christmas,” said Johnson. Could Azertyuiop or Moscow Flyer give Thisthatandtother 23lb?”
