Everything in the garden rosy for Richards
The talented chaser lost little in defeat behind Voy Por Ustedes in a red-hot renewal of the Arkle 12 months ago and put himself in the reckoning for this year’s meeting with a convincing success at Ascot last time out.
Having elected to bypass the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase to take in this race, Cumbrian trainer Richards is quietly confident Monet’s Garden can vindicate his decision in the Grade Two attraction.
“He’s very well and we’re looking forward to it,” Richards said. “I know we are favourite, but it’s a very good race. There are good horses in there and I give them all healthy respect.
“It should be perfect jumping ground tomorrow.”
Monet’s Garden disappointed in the King George VI Chase prior to his more characteristic Ascot romp, whereas Henrietta Knight’s Racing Demon finished a highly-creditable third only to blot his copybook when falling over hurdles back at Kempton.
Racing Demon has also been declared for Friday’s totesport Gold Cup, but Wantage-based trainer Knight explained “I’ve left him in the Gold Cup just in case something goes wrong, like if he pulls a shoe off or anything.
“He’s in good form and I think the ground will be OK for him.
“We talked about the two races and the owners decided they wanted to go for the shorter distance. It’s a very good race and we hope he runs well.”
Adding further spice to the mix is the David Pipe-trained course-and-distance scorer Our Vic, who returned to action this season with an impressive success in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.
Despite running well to finish second to Exotic Dancer at Cheltenham in January, it appeared the extended three-mile-one-furlong trip just put too much of a strain on his stamina reserves.
His owner David Johnson said: “The horse is very well and I feel the Ryanair is the obvious race for him to go for this week.
“There are so many opinions about him and his best trip, but he didn’t appear to get home in the old Pillar Chase last time.
“He’s run several good races at Cheltenham and the ground will be perfect for him.
“Even though we’re taking on a huge rival in Monet’s Garden I’m sure he will acquit himself well.”
Rider Andrew McNamara believes Hi Cloy, trained by Michael Hourigan, can finish closer than he did in this race 12 months ago when sixth to Fondmort.
“He had an operation at the end of last season and he was a bit slow at the start of this season, he took a while to come to himself,” McNamara said.
“He ran well in the Hennessy last time, he just didn’t stay.
“Last year here I jumped off too far back and he never really got into it, but I will jump him off closer this time.
“This year’s race looks very hot, though, and I think Monet’s Garden will be very hard to beat.”
Thisthatandtother, winner of this contest two years ago but well-beaten by Monet’s Garden at Ascot, represents champion trainer Paul Nicholls along with Taranis.
Course-and-distance scorer Too Forward, trained by Carl Llewellyn, completes a small but select field.
