Johnson biding time with Gold
Celestial Gold could make his seasonal bow in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury later this month after connections decided not to run at Cheltenham tomorrow.
The seven-year-old was entered for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, a race he won last year before going on to take the Hennessy itself.
However, owner David Johnson and trainer Martin Pipe already had Our Vic and Therealbandit for the £110,000 race so elected to keep Celestial Gold on ice for another couple of weeks.
“I didn’t really want to run him against the other two and you have got to wait almost until the day to see whether they are fit and well to run,” Johnson told At The Races.
“He’s very well but I didn’t really want to set all my guns blazing in one race really. Don’t be put off by the fact he isn’t running.
“I think he will now go for either the Tripleprint or the Hennessy.”
Celestial Gold is a 14-1 chance with Coral for the Hennessy, which will be run on November 26.
