Racing: Carberry set to sail on Creek
Paul Carberry is set to renew his association with Frenchman’s Creek in the £125,000 (€200,000) attheraces Gold Cup at Sandown Park on Saturday.
The crack Irish jockey was on board Hughie Morrison’s charge when the gelding defeated Carbury Cross and Ad Hoc in the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Frenchman’s Creek is a best-priced 5-1 chance for the extended three miles and five furlongs contest.
Morrison said: ‘‘He seems fine and I have booked Paul Carberry to ride him again after he rode the horse exactly to orders at Cheltenham.
‘‘The trip is unknown territory but as long as they go a nice even gallop I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t run well.
‘‘If there is a worry over the ground then I’ll probably declare him and walk the course on Saturday as I am up at Perth on Thursday and Friday.’’
The going is currently described as good to firm.
Last year’s winner (when it was known as the Whitbread Gold Cup) Ad Hoc is 7-2 favourite with Coral as he bids to gain compensation following a luckless run in the Martell Grand National where he was still going well when brought down by David’s Lad at the fourth last fence.
His trainer Paul Nicholls reports the horse in good shape.
‘‘Ad Hoc is well and has recovered from his exploits in the Martell Grand National,’’ he said.
Ad Hoc is not the only Whitbread winner going to Sandown for the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Beau, the 2000 hero, is also an intended runner. He is none the worse after unseating Carl Llewellyn in the Grand National.
Said Llewellyn: ‘‘Beau was running a very good race in the National when he might have got his legs crossed and he just went down underneath me.
‘‘But he’s fine now and they tell me he’s absolutely flying at home.’’
Carbury Cross is expected to seek compensation at Sandown following his fall in the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National at Ayr last Saturday.
‘‘He seems fine and as long as we’re happy with him during the week, he’ll run again at Sandown. A drop of rain would be handy,’’ said his trainer Jonjo O’Neill.
