Gold ready to return

Martin Pipe’s Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Celestial Gold may make his seasonal bow just after Christmas having been sidelined since last year’s blue riband.

The Letheby & Christopher Chase, formerly known as the Pillar Property Chase, has been mooted as a possible target for the seven-year-old.

Celestial Gold has not run since finishing seventh behind Kicking King at Cheltenham in March and owner David Johnson believes Pipe may bide his time and wait for the January 28 event.

He told At The Races: “He had an infection and was on antibiotics – that’s why he couldn’t run in the Hennessy as it hadn’t gone through his system.

“He’s well and I expect we will see him out very soon. As to where we go, I’m not quite sure. I don’t know whether Martin will want to hang on and think about running him in the Pillar in January or sooner.”