Stand going for Gold

Take The Stand has emerged from his luckless run at Lingfield on Saturday with no ill effects and will now head straight for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 17.

Peter Bowen’s 10-year-old unseated Tony Dobbin at the fifth fence in the Ascot totesport Chase and continued to run loose for the remainder of the race.

However, last year’s Gold Cup second has not done himself any harm, and Bowen said: “Obviously we could have done without him exiting the race like that but at least he galloped round loose and came back unharmed.

“He’s fine and will go straight for the Gold Cup – all we need is some good fast ground.”

Take The Stand, who is without a win in five starts this season, is available at 16-1 to go one better than last year and claim racing’s blue riband.