Crus set for chasing bow
David Pipe’s grey completed a hat-trick of victories with an awesome display in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January, before coming up short against legendary stayer Big Buck’s at the Festival in March and at Aintree in April.
He disappointed when running in France in June but he has been freshened up since and Pipe is looking forward to seeing his star turn line up in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices’ Chase later this week, for which exciting prospect Cue Card also holds an entry.
“He’s in at Cheltenham on Friday and all being well with the ground, the plan is to go there,” the trainer told At The Races.
“Tom Scudamore has been in and schooled him and he’s jumped nicely. He’ll have another schooling session this week and we’re looking forward to getting him back on the track.
“We’ve been pleased with how he’s schooled, the problem with Grands Crus is just keeping him relaxed in the early part of the race – he can be a bit too keen at times.
“Sometimes horses school well at home and don’t transfer it to the track. You can only do so much with them at home and it’s different in the race itself, but all I can say is we’ve been very pleased with what he’s done so far.”
Meanwhile Pateese, an emphatic winner at Sandown over the weekend, is among 26 horses confirmed for the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday.
The six-year-old picked up a 5lb penalty for Saturday’s success and with the weights going up 14lb after the latest acceptance stage, he is now on 10st 9lb.
Not surprisingly that timely victory elevated him to the head of the ante-post market at 8-1 with Paddy Power.
His trainer Philip Hobbs has claimed this race three times in recent years with Rooster Booster (2002), Detroit City (2006) and Menorah (2010).
The Minehead handler could also be represented Nearby, Oldrik and Alazan.
Heading the weights now on 11st 12lb are the Paul Nicholls-trained Sanctuaire and Topolski from David Arbuthnot’s stable.
Nicholls is also responsible for recent Ascot winner Brampour and Domtaline, a scorer at Chepstow a month ago.
Other notable entries include Paul Flynn’s Galway Hurdle winner Moon Dice and other Irish hopefuls Charles Byrnes’ Jack Cool and Inspector Clouseau from Willie Mullins’ yard.
Greatwood Hurdle, Paddy Power bet: 8-1 Pateese, 9-1 Brampour, 10-1 Domtaline, Moon Dice, 12-1 A Media Luz, 14-1 Kumbeshwar, 16-1 Third Intention, Sanctuaire, Jack Cool, Oldrik, Via Galilei, 20-1 bar.
