Denman decision delights Thomas
Ruby Walsh was expected to be agonising over the choice in the lead-up to the big showdown, but Denman’s owners wanted some continuity, forcing Walsh into an early decision.
He plumped for Kauto Star, leaving Paul Nicholls’ number two, Thomas, to come in for the ride on Denman.
And after an effortless prep run in the Aon Chase, Thomas is now looking forward to the biggest day of his career.
“He did everything right and he did it nicely,” he said.
“The main thing was that he enjoyed himself, and he will improve a bit for the run, which is nice to know.
“I think it is good that we have got everything arranged and that I have been given the chance to ride him before the Gold Cup, which is ideal, because it is the biggest race of the season and you need to know your horse.
“It gave me another chance to have a ride round on him and it couldn’t have gone any better,” he said.
Meanwhile, David Pipe is in limbo with his Sky Bet Chase winner An Accordion.
The seven-year-old won a competitive renewal of the race formerly known as the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster last month and was handed an 11lb rise by the handicapper.
However, the presence of Kauto Star in the entries for the Country Gentlemen’s Association Chase at Wincanton on Saturday leaves him well out of the handicap.
He has the option of the Racing Post Chase the following weekend, but Paul Nicholls’ star appears among the entries for that valuable prize, too.
Kauto Star appears most likely to run in the Commercial First Ascot Chase on Saturday, but Pipe cannot make plans for An Accordion until he knows exactly where the Gold Cup winner will turn up.
Pipe said: “An Accordion is improving with racing, but he is still a big baby.
“He has got plenty of potential, but he will need to have. He has gone up 11lb for his last win, so I just hope the handicapper is right.”
Pipe is undecided whether to let Welsh National third Over The Creek take his chance in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock on Saturday.
The nine-year-old also has the option of the Grade Two Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot this weekend, and he is likely to turn up wherever the ground is most suitable.
The David Johnson-owned gelding, who was a smart performer over timber, appeared to lose his way but has been nursed back to the top of his game.
“He’s in the Red Square and the novice race at Ascot and we’ll see what the ground is like,” said Pipe.
“I think he probably wants better ground, but he is a horse that has had tendon injuries, so you have to be a little bit careful with him. It’s a case of six of one and half a dozen of another.”
