Trabolgan has Fitz dreaming of Gold

Mick Fitzgerald believes Trabolgan deserves to be considered a contender for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup after defying top weight in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.

The seven-year-old, having his first race since winning the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham in March, defeated L’Ami to give Fitzgerald and Henderson their first win in the Newbury feature.

“Fantastic. It was one of those days when everything goes to plan – no blips and an amazing day,” Fitzgerald told At The Races.

“It was very strange to think it was a race Nicky had tried to win for 25 years.

“He’d had a couple of close shaves and never quite got there, but the amazing thing is we’ve finally got a horse good enough.

“I think the Gold Cup is looking more and more open now that Kicking King has been beaten in his first two races this season.

“Unfortunately we haven’t got Best Mate any longer so it opens the door for a lot of other horses. There’s Kingscliff, who won so well at Haydock, and Beef Or Salmon, who ran well up there.

“You’d have to say this fellow has still got to find improvement.

“He’s won the Hennessy off 151 whereas when Burrough Hill Lad won it he was a previous Gold Cup winner.

“You are looking at a different picture but this fellow of ours certainly comes into it now.

“The King George is the logical step. It’s the next three-mile test and Nicky said yesterday Sandown will suit him.

“It’s a funny track, a stiff uphill finish. This horse of ours does stay well but he’s also got a lot of speed.

“One of my biggest problems yesterday was they weren’t going quick enough.”

Fitzgerald reported Trabolgan to be fine following his exertions.

“As far as I know he’s absolutely A1 today. I saw Sarah (Shreeve) who looks after him yesterday evening when the horse had got back and she said he was full of himself,” he added.