Punters believe Pipe is all Gold

PUNTERS believe Celestial Gold will give Martin Pipe a third Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

The Paddy Power Gold Cup winner has been strongly-supported yesterday, with Coral, who were 6-1 yesterday, cutting the David Johnson-trained gelding to 7-2 favourite from 9-2, while the six-year-old is down to 11-4 from 4-1 with Ladbrokes, and 3-1 from 9-2 with William Hill.

“From the moment we opened this morning punters have been piling their cash on Celestial Gold. We cut him to 4-1 after an hour but were forced to go 7-2 at noon as the money kept pouring in,” said Coral spokesman Simon Clare.

“This is the biggest ante-post gamble of the season so far, and he will cost us a quarter of a million if he wins on Saturday.”

Celestial Gold carries plenty of stable confidence as he leads Pipe’s assault on the Hennessy, which he won with Strands Of Gold in 1988 and Chatam in 1991.

“What is amazing is that before the Paddy Power all of his races were over longer trips - he was second in a four-mile chase at this year’s Cheltenham Festival,” Pipe’s assistant Chester Barnes told www.martinpipe.co.uk.

“You would think that the Hennessy trip at Newbury would be right up Celestial Gold’s street. He will handle the ground and the trip should be perfect.”

The champion trainer left three in at yesterday’s confirmation stage - the others being Betfred Gold Cup victor Puntal and the novice Vodka Bleu - but he has taken out Therealbandit and Stormez.

As Therealbandit was a surprise withdrawal, Totesport are to refund ante-post punters who backed the horse yesterday morning.

The sole Irish entry among 19 horses standing their ground yesterday was Nil Desperandum.

He is an intended runner, according to trainer Frances Crowley, who has booked Mick Fitzgerald.

The trainer said: “He’s in great form. He’s going well and we’re hoping for a very good run.

“He shouldn’t be lacking for assistance from the saddle anyway. Mick’s not been on him before but that shouldn’t be a problem. He’s a straightforward ride.”

Amateur rider David Dunsdon will partner his own horse Joly Bey, who was reported to be in fine shape by his trainer Nick Gifford.

“He’s in good form, David came down to school him on Saturday and he jumped super,” said Gifford.

“I couldn’t be happier with him, he’s bouncing at home, he’s schooled well - it’s all systems go.”

Joly Bey is 11-2 second favourite with Totesport.

French trainer Francois Doumen has left in top weight First Gold, who will carry the steadier of 11st 12lb.

Royal Auclair, formerly trained by Pipe, is the only horse to stand its ground from the Paul Nicholls stable, who sent out Strong Flow to easily win the race 12 months ago.

Peter Bowen is currently treble-handed with Take The Stand, Ballycassidy and Swansea Bay, while Durham handler Howard Johnson has left in the exciting novice Lord Transcend.

Lord Transcend, who has not run for months, could make a return to action.

Johnson said: “We have him entered but we won’t make a final decision until Thursday. He would want ground on the easy side of good and we still need to do a bit of schooling with him.”

The ground at Newbury was yesterday described as good to soft and the forecast is for it to remain cloudy but dry for the rest of the week.

Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup betting:

Ladbrokes: 11-4 Celestial Gold, 6-1 Joly Bey, 7-1 Lord Transcend, Ollie Magern, 8-1 Nil Desperandum, Royal Auclair, 10-1 Ballycassidy, 16-1 Frenchman’s Creek, Gunther McBride, Take The Stand, 20-1 Puntal, First Gold, 25-1 bar.

Cashmans: 7/2 Celestial Gold, 6/1 Joly Bey, 8/1 Lord Transcend, Ollie Magern, 10/1 Ballycassidy, Nil Desperandum, Royal Auclair, 20/1 Take The Stand, Gunther McBride, First Gold, 25/1 Desailly.