Friday 3 November 2017

Charlie Hall: Coneygree primed for Cue Card clash

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Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Coneygree can establish his place at the top of the chasing ranks, as he searches for his first win in over two years in Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase on Saturday.

"We had him ready to go to Listowel in the summer, but got cold feet when the ground was very testing," said Sara Bradstock, wife to Mark.

"Since then he did have a bit of a head cold, which held him up for a little bit, so we have been slightly rushed, but nothing too major.

"He'll obviously be better for the run, but the conditions of the race meant that we always wanted to come here, as long as the ground was suitable.

"Only Cue Card is rated above us, but he's got to give us weight.

"Once we didn't make Ireland we always wanted to come for this."

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Cue Card looked back to his best when striking by fifteen lengths in the Ascot Chase

Cue Card, who has fell in the previous two runnings of the Gold Cup, makes his first start since losing narrowly in the Betway Bowl.

Trainer Colin Tizzard is hopeful he can repeat his 2015 success in this race.

"He's had a racecourse gallop and Joe (Tizzard) schooled him earlier this week,” said the Dorset-based trainer.

“He jumped a couple of hurdles and four fences - just ticking the boxes, really.

"When we took him for his racecourse gallop, at one time he'd have been running away for two miles, but this time he was behind the bridle.

"He still came six lengths away from a 156-rated horse, so he's just as good as he's ever been."

No trainer has won this race more than five times, but Nigel Twiston-Davies has four winners to his name and is double handed in the Grade Two event.

Blaklion was an unlucky fourth in the Grand National, whilst last year's Peter Marsh winner Bristol De Mai makes his first start since finishing fifth at Aintree.

Definitly Red makes his first start since pulling-up in the Grand National for Brian Ellison.

Village Vic, Virgillo and Shantou Village are joined by Vieux De Rouge.

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