Walsh sticking with Poquelin
Owner Andy Stewart is delighted Ruby Walsh has decided to stick with Poquelin after the Paddy Power runner-up was given the go-ahead for the Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham tomorrow.
Connections of the six-year-old, trained by Paul Nicholls, did have concerns about the ground but conditions should not be as testing as they were at last month's meeting.
"Paul says we have nothing to lose. He'll run with Ruby on board," said Stewart, who will also have his colours carried by Gwanako.
"Ruby had the choice and there was not a cat in hell's chance after he was on board Poquelin on soft ground and came second in the Paddy Power that he would get off him and ride Gwanako. Harry Skelton will ride that one.
"We've kept Poquelin ticking over since the Paddy Power. We were thinking of going straight for the Ryanair. That is not until March.
"He does likes Cheltenham though, he is an improving horse and we are really looking forward to the race."
Nicholls added: "The ground is soft, but he ran here when the ground was worse the last day. There is also nothing else for him - it's a long time until the Ryanair otherwise."
Nicholls is also represented by Chapoturgeon, one of two runners owned by David Johnson along with Our Vic.
Johnson believes Chapoturgeon has a good chance of gaining compensation for an unlucky run last time when he came down in the Paddy Power.
"Timmy (Murphy) felt he got brought down last time rather than fell," he explained.
"He's very well, he has his ground, Paul (Nicholls) fancies him and we think he'll run a big race."
Our Vic, trained by David Pipe, was sixth in that contest and won at Warwick on Sunday.
"Our Vic goes there, but maybe we are going to the well again a bit soon but he's well-in and we're limited where to go with him," Johnson went on.
"This is probably going to be his last year before we retire him and David Pipe felt we might as well take our chance.
"He's got a lot of weight but he might run into the first six."
Mount Oscar has won both his starts this season, at Fontwell and Newbury last month, and his trainer Colin Tizzard is optimistic of a bold show.
"He appears to have come out of the Newbury race fine. It's another tough assignment, but he seems equally as well now as he did going into that one so he's got to take his chance," said the Dorset handler.
"He outstayed the other one in the end and I think going up the Cheltenham hill is what he's going to need.
"We're very hopeful and he hasn't done anything wrong this year."
Willie Mullins admits Jayo has plenty on his plate having been off the track since finishing fifth at Punchestown in May.
"It's his first run of the season so it's a tough ask for him in a race like this, but we'll see how he gets on," said the County Carlow handler.
"He's travelled over well and the soft ground shouldn't be a problem for him.
"We just want to get him started for the season and see how it goes."
Keith Goldsworthy feels he could be holding a trump card after Hold Em just made the cut.
Hold Em scraped in - just as he had done in the Paddy Power, when he put in a sterling effort to finished third.
"I reckon we are holding all the aces now," said the South Pembrokeshie trainer.
"We've got Choc (Robert Thornton) on, who knows him, the ground and the trip and everything are right for him.
"The weights are right and he's working well. He gets a tick in every box. A bit of luck in running is what we want now."
Boylesports.com Gold Cup, William Hill bet: 11-2 Poquelin, 6-1 Atouchbetweenacara, 13-2 Chapoturgeon, 9-1 Tamarinbleu, 10-1 Razor Royale, Sky's The Limit, 12-1 Hold Em, Skippers Brig, 16-1 Mount Oscar, 20-1 bar.
