Hold That Tiger to miss Gladness
Explaining the decision last night O’Brien said: "We have found in the past that asking a three-year-old to carry a Group One penalty in that race can be a difficult task.
"If your horse isn’t 100% fit, he can be subjected to a very hard race and that’s why we have concluded it is better to give the contest a miss.
"Instead, Hold That Tiger will work after racing on Sunday.
“In all probability he will go straight to Newmarket for the Guineas.”
The son of Storm Cat has been a major ante-post gamble for the first colts’ classic of the campaign.
He was a brilliant juvenile, producing an extraordinary display, on his final outing, in the Breeders’ Cup at Arlington.
Hold That Tiger lost a huge amount of ground when slowly away, but powered through at the end of the nine furlongs to finish a highly creditable third.
Previously, he showed a tremendous turn of foot to land the seven furlongs Group One Grand Criterium at Longchamp on Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe afternoon.
Marino Marini is set to do duty for Ballydoyle in the Gladness. Successful in two of his six starts last year, he will run unpenalised on Sunday.
Meanwhile Jonjo O’Neill was greatly relieved yesterday after being exonerated by the Jockey Club and successfully appealing against a £6,000 fine imposed on him following the running of Top Of The Left at Exeter in January.
His fine was quashed, as was the gelding’s 30-day ban from racing.
O’Neill’s punishment followed a disciplinary panel inquiry on February 13, and came after he had been found in breach of Rule 155 (the non-triers rule), three times within six weeks.
After the appeal the former champion jockey turned successful trainer said: “I had a very fair hearing. I was not certain that the result would be in my favour, only hopeful, but it is a weight off my shoulders. I have never had a bad name, so I didn’t have to clear it.”
