Mick Fitz gets plum ride on Azertyuiop

Mick Fitzgerald is to step in for the plum ride on Azertyuiop when the Arkle Challenge Trophy winner makes his seasonal reappearance in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter next Tuesday.

Trainer Paul Nicholls has been utilising Joe Tizzard while his stable jockey Ruby Walsh has been nursing a leg injury, but the owners of Azertyuiop are keen for Fitzgerald to partner the gelding.

Nicholls, who expects to work Azertyuiop on Saturday, said: “As long as he works well and the ground is all right, he will run at Exeter and Mick will ride him.”

Coral today opened a book on the Queen Mother Champion Chase and make Azertyuiop 3-1 joint-favourite with 2003 winner Moscow Flyer.

Nicholls also outlined plans for Le Roi Miguel and Kadarann.

He added:” If it rains I am quite keen to take Le Roi Miguel to the James Nicholson Wine Merchants Champion Chase at Down Royal, and Kadarann is pencilled in for a two-mile chase at the Open meeting at Cheltenham.”