Kingscliff to advertise Gold Cup claims
There is no doubt last season’s Foxhunter Chase winner looked something special when turning a handicap chase at Ascot into a procession three weeks ago.
His 17-length verdict over Horus barely told half the story as the six-year-old and his jockey Andrew Thornton almost parted company after the third fence when a rein broke.
Thornton did remarkably well to stay in the plate over the rest of the three-mile contest, but he was helped by his mount, who jumped soundly throughout despite the broken rein dangling to one side. The handicapper has put up Kingscliff 18lb for that success, but there appears to be so much improvement to come that he can take the hike in his stride.
He gets weight from seasoned campaigners Cyfor Malta and Marlborough, who should give an accurate assessment of his ability at this stage of his career.
Martin Pipe’s promising Therealbandit can make a winning debut over the bigger obstacles in the Ian Williams Owners Novices’ Chase.
The six-year-old easily landed a handicap hurdle over this distance of three miles one and a half furlongs at the last Cheltenham meeting and looks a potentially useful chaser in the making.
