Cardinal confirmed for Lingfield
Murphy’s Cardinal could book his place in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup with a good run at Lingfield on Saturday.
The nine-year-old was added to the field for the Grade One totesport Chase after the race was reopened until 9.15am today as just eight entries were originally received.
Trainer Noel Chance fully intends to run Murphy’s Cardinal at Lingfield even though he has an alternative engagement in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday.
“The attraction of Lingfield is that the totesport Chase is worth about £80,000 (€116,400) more than the race in Ireland and it’s considerably closer as well,” Chance explained.
“Also we like to support these races – trainers have been castigated in the press today over a few races at Plumpton yesterday which weren’t supported. When we have the horse, we are happy enough to run in them.”
Murphy’s Cardinal was last seen in action when finishing fifth behind Rule Supreme in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown earlier this month.
Chance was pleased with the way he jumped in Ireland and reports the Shernazar gelding to be in fine heart at present.
“Murphy’s Cardinal has come out of Leopardstown pretty good and he’s in excellent form at home – I was delighted with the way that he jumped in Ireland,” he added.
Murphy’s Cardinal will be dropping back to an extended two and a half miles which Chance admits is not ideal.
He said: “I still think that he’s a three-mile horse but he’s won at two and a half miles. I’m not so sure whether he’s as good at this trip as he is over three but we’ll see on Saturday.
“Depending how he runs on Saturday, he’s in the Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy Chase and the William Hill Handicap Chase and a couple of other races at Cheltenham.
“He’s also still in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Saturday will tell us where to go – it could very well be the last named if he was impressive at Lingfield.”
Robert Alner also added Spring Grove to the race this morning, joining last year’s winner, the Henry Daly-trained Hand Inn Hand who was among the initial entries.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Royal & SunAlliance Chase favourite Ollie Magern is in the race along with Arthur Moore’s veteran performer Native Upmanship and the Richard Ford-trained Forest Gunner
Iris’s Gift, winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last year, is likely be pitched in at the top level on his first start over fences, while Martin Pipe has entered both Seebald and It Takes Time.
Nicky Henderson’s Geos is the other possible contender but he is not a certain runner.
The 10-year-old, who has proved useful over both fences and hurdles, is also entered in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on Sunday.
Geos would be making a quick return to action after running in the totesport Trophy Hurdle at Newbury last week and he would also be tackling fences for the first time since April 2003.
James Stafford, racing manager for owners Thurloe Thoroughbreds, is going to take a look at both races and talk over the options with Henderson.
“If everything is all right he might run over the weekend but I will have to talk to Nicky Henderson tomorrow before we can discuss plans,” he said.
“He is entered at Lingfield and Fontwell but we are going to have to weigh up the options very carefully and take a good look at the races.
“Obviously if he were to go to Lingfield he would need a school over fences but I don’t know what we will be doing yet.”
Seebald and Hand Inn Hand have been installed as the 2-1 favourites by Cashmans, while Murphy’s Cardinal is next best on 11-2.
totesport Chase, Cashmans bet: 2-1 Seebald, Hand Inn Hand, 11-2 Murphy’s Cardinal, 6-1 Iris’s Gift, 7-1 It Takes Time, 8-1 Geos, 20-1 Spring Grove, 25-1 Forest Gunner.
