McManus pair set for Power challenge
Leading Irish owner J P McManus is set to be doubly represented in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham next week.
Master Tern, who has been allotted 10st 2lb, and Risk Accessor (9st 10lb), were today named as the two horses likely to carry McManus’s famous colours in the £110,000 (€160,000) handicap chase following the publication of the weights.
McManus has a total of five in the race – the Christy Roche-trained pair of Le Coudray (10st 11lb) and Risk Accessor, Jonjo O’Neill’s Master Tern and Druid’s Glen (9st 11lb), and the Michael O’Brien-trained Knife Edge (10st 11lb).
His racing manager Frank Berry said: “I’ll be speaking to Mr McManus but I would say the most likely ones to run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup are Master Tern and Risk Accessor.”
They have been given quotes of 9-1 and 12-1 respectively with Paddy Power.
Master Tern was last seen in action when successful in an Aintree handicap chase in April, beating Shardam by one and a quarter lengths.
Berry reported that the eight-year-old has done well since: “We’re very, very pleased with Master Tern, he’s in good form and looks well.
“Risk Accessor won a two-horse chase the other day at Thurles – it was a nice bit of work for him and he won easily there. It was good to get the run into him.”
The Martin Pipe-trained pair of Seebald and Cyfor Malta, last year’s winner, head the weights on 11st 12lb.
The Nicholashayne-based champion trainer has sent out the winner for the last three years and Cyfor Malta’s success in 2002 was his sixth in all.
Pipe has seven entries in total.
Cyfor Malta, a 12-1 chance with the sponsors, also won this race in 1998 and Pipe’s other victories came courtesy of Shooting Light (2001), Lady Cricket (2000), Challenger Du Luc (1996) and Beau Ranger (1987).
Pipe is also responsible for the Paddy Power favourite, It Takes Time (10st 10lb), a top novice chaser during the last campaign.
The nine-year-old is the 7-2 market leader after strong support from the early 6-1 on offer when the betting opened on Friday.
Pipe could also run Tarxien (10st 11lb), Wahiba Sands (10st 8lb), Horus (10st) and Montreal (9st 7lb).
Other leading fancies include the Paul Nicholls-trained Poliantas (11st), runner-up to Cyfor Malta 12 months ago, Fondmort (10st 13lb), the winner of the Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham last year for Nicky Henderson and the Henry Daly-trained Young Spartacus, winner of the Mildmay Of Flete after exactly 14 months off the track.
Paddy Power Gold Cup, sponsors bet: 7-2 It Takes Time, 6-1 Poliantas, 7-1 Fondmort, 9-1 Master Tern, 10-1 Young Spartacus, 12-1 Cyfor Malta, Risk Accessor, Tarxien, 14-1 Dark N Sharp, Foly Pleasant, Isio, 16-1 bar.
