Bullish Johnson chasing more gold

Champion owner David Johnson today declared his Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Celestial Gold firmly on target for next Saturday's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.

Johnson will be responsible for a total of five horses in the field at tomorrow's five-day stage, including Our Vic, although the latter is expected to wait for the Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham next month.

Johnson is expecting to be double-handed at Newbury with Therealbandit joining ante-post favourite Celestial Gold and he said: "Everything is open to manoeuvre and we shall leave five of mine in the race, although I expect to run two, Celestial Gold and Therealbandit.

"Martin Pipe's style is to leave everything in in case things go wrong and that's why the names of Our Vic and even Vodka Bleu will be among the declarations tomorrow.

"But the intention is to run Celestial Gold and Therealbandit come the day and I'm thrilled to bits with Celestial Gold.

"I thought he would be in the first five or six at Cheltenham and to win it was something of a surprise. But when you look back at the performance it was hard to fault. He's basically an out-and-out stayer who has strengthened and matured."

However, Johnson did sound one slight note of caution.

"He's delighted us since the Paddy Power but I do remember him beating a good horse of Jonjo O'Neill's on his first run at Towcester last season, and then disappointing us next time. I just hope he doesn't encounter the bounce factor," he added.

Johnson said that he expects Timmy Murphy to partner Celestial Gold and Jamie Moore to be on Therealbandit, of whom he observed: "I thought his run over hurdles at Cheltenham was a disaster but in all the blood tests we did afterwards nothing came to light and I can't imagine that he was short of work.

"Since then his blood pictures have been spot on, he's eaten up and worked well. I just hope it was a bad day at the office for him."

Of Our Vic, a hot favourite for the Paddy Power until ruled out by a minor muscular problem, Johnson went on: "He's back in full work and Martin is pleased with him. If the Hennessy comes too soon for him his target is the Tripleprint Gold Cup back at Cheltenham."