Mister Top Notch set for Haydock assignment
The nine-year-old was last seen chasing home Dear Villez in the Munster National at Limerick and connections decided to sidestep the JNwine.com Champion Chase last weekend due to the presence of Kauto Star.
That was probably a good move given the brilliant display the former Cheltenham Gold Cup hero produced at Down Royal, and a trip to England is now the primary target for Mister Top Notch.
“I didn’t see any point going to take on Kauto Star last weekend and he will now go to Haydock on November 22,” said Fitzgerald.
“We’ve given him a precautionary entry in the Betfair Chase but the £100,000 handicap over the brush hurdles is his target and he is 18lb lower over hurdles than fences.
“He’s in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury as well but I would only think about going for that if there is something with a high rating in there to keep our weight down, and that doesn’t look like being the case.
“Denis (O’Regan) is quite bullish about wanting to run him in the Becher Chase at Aintree as well and I haven’t ruled that out either.
