The top stables
are used to having good horses running in the biggest races, but the
chances of dining at National Hunt racing’s top table are a little
more fleeting when you are a smaller yard.
Perhaps that is
why, when you do have a horse which looks like it can be top class,
you should grasp every possible opportunity to go for gold.
That certainly
seems to be the case for Mark Bradstock, who is set to let his stable
star Coneygree take his chance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup after
scrapping a tilt at the RSA Chase instead.
As a novice,
Coneygree certainly has it all to do in the Gold Cup after running
just three times over fences in his career. Captain Christy was the
last novice to win the Gold Cup in 1974, while Gloria
Victis is a tragic reminder of what can happen after
suffering a fatal fall when running in the 2000 race as a novice.
But, after
Coneygree’s impressive win against more experienced chasers in the
Denman Chase last time, you can understand why Bradstock has
succumbed to the temptation of going for the Gold Cup. And if you
fancy Coneygree’s chances just as much as the trainer by
betting on Cheltenham Festival races then he is 9/1 with bet365.
The question now
is whether Coneygree is capable of making an impact in the Gold Cup.
He is proven
around Cheltenham, albeit over hurdles, which is a plus. He won Grade
Two trials for both the Neptune and Albert Bartlett in 2012 before
then finishing third in another trial for the Neptune behind At
Fishers Cross and The New One, which is extremely solid form, in
January 2013.
That proved to
be Coneygree’s last run until his chasing debut at Newbury in
November last year. He made all to beat Dell ‘Arca by a
length-and-a-half in a Grade Two on soft ground over two-and-a-half
miles.
Coneygree’s
second start over fences was in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices’
Chase at Kempton over Christmas when he beat Warden Hill by 40
lengths. Saphir Du Rheu, who unseated his rider at Newbury, fell in
that race and is ante-post favourite for the World Hurdle. Carraig
Mor and Sausalito Sunrise, who could also have given Coneygree a
race, both failed to make it round as well.
But Coneygree
showed back at
Newbury in the Denman Chase that there is plenty of
substance behind his ability after making all to beat Houblon Des
Obeaux by seven lengths. Houblon Des Obeaux had finished second to
Many Clouds in the Hennessy earlier in the season and was ninth in
the Gold Cup last year. Unioniste, a leading contender for the Grand
National, was third and 2014 JLT Novices’ Chase winner Taquin Du
Seuil was fourth.
Still on the
upgrade, Coneygree
will line up for the Gold Cup with a solid chance,
despite his lack of experience. He is tough, jumps well and could
prove hard to overhaul if he is allowed his own way in front.
It would
certainly be a remarkable training achievement if Bradstock can pull
it off.