Tag Archive for: Cheltenham Festival

‘He seems to have improved no end’ – Notlongtillmay under Cheltenham consideration

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Laura Morgan looks set to hand Notlongtillmay an entry in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham after completing a three-timer for the yard at Musselburgh on Saturday.

The Alan Rogers-owned gelding joined the Waltham On The Wolds yard from Chris Gordon, having won a novice hurdle at Fontwell in January 2022, and has clearly enjoyed the change of scenery.

The seven-year-old backed up a win on his chasing debut at Wetherby in November with two further victories at Musselburgh, the latest a nine-length victory romp over an extended two and a half miles.

Leicestershire-based Morgan is now deliberating whether to take him to next month’s Festival meeting, although she has ruled out a tilt at the Turners’ Novices’ Chase, for which he is a general 33-1 chance.

Morgan said: “He seems to have improved no end. I can’t believe it. Chris said to me that he used to struggle really badly with bleeding problems.

“Touch wood, that has not happened at all. That was my main priority and hopefully we are on the right road.”

Morgan is in two minds about running Notlongtillmay at the Festival, although feels a drop back in trip might be on the cards if he does.

“I find it hard this season to be going mad with a novice. He only had his third start over fences the other day.

“I’m a small yard and of course I’d want to have a Cheltenham runner, but at the same time I just wouldn’t want to go and wreck him this season, because he’s probably only going to have one more run.

“I will definitely pop an entry in the Grand Annual without a shadow of a doubt, but while he’s been winning over two and a half, Brian (Hughes) says you could drop him back to two (miles). He’d say he’d be there with every shout. So let’s have a look and see how we go.”

Notlongtillmay, whose nickname in the yard is ‘Maurice’, has largely been campaigned over flatter tracks than he would encounter at Cheltenham, a fact that concerns Morgan.

She added: “If he doesn’t go to Cheltenham, it would either be Aintree or Ayr, but it is a long time until then. While he’s fit and in great form, we might as well pop an entry in the Grand Annual.

“A strongly-run race will really suit him but while I want to be going, he’s won on pretty much all flat tracks, which is slightly worrying.

“In my heart I’d love to be going because I have a horse good enough to compete, but at the same time, what if he gets there and hates the track? It is a difficult one.”

Meanwhile, Percussion – placed in both the Grand Sefton and the Becher Handicap Chase over Aintree’s Grand National fences – is in line for a return to the Liverpool track.

The Evan-Robert Hanbury-owned eight-year-old has won three of his 12 starts over fences and been placed on another five occasions.

Having bypassed the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster, Morgan intends to give him one more run to qualify him for the Topham Handicap Chase on April 14.

“The plan is to go for the Topham, but obviously he will need to go up a bit, so he will go to Doncaster or Wetherby and then see where we are then,” said Morgan.

“I know the owners would love to go there. They also have Fantastic Lady and Nicky (Henderson) is aiming her for Cheltenham, but she might go for the Topham as well.

“It is just the fact that ‘Percy’ loves those National fences and jumps them so well.”

Cleeve hero Gold Tweet to be supplemented for Stayers’ Hurdle

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Gold Tweet is on course for a tilt at the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, with trainer Gabriel Leenders confirming he intends to supplement his Cleeve Hurdle winner for the Cheltenham Festival contest.

Although not among the original entries for the Thursday feature, Gold Tweet shot towards the head of the market for the three-mile Grade One when becoming France’s first Graded winner at Cheltenham in 18 years on Festival Trials Day.

Sent off a rather unfancied 14-1 for the Cleeve, he travelled strongly into contention in the hands of Johnny Charron before scooting clear of the game Dashel Drasher after the last to record a taking three-length victory.

Gold Tweet ridden by Johnny Charron (left) before going on to win the Dahlbury Stallions At Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle during Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham
Gold Tweet ridden by Johnny Charron (left) before going on to win the Dahlbury Stallions At Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle during Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)

Connections were initially lukewarm about returning to Prestbury Park, but Leenders has now signalled his intention of stumping up the £14,787 supplementary fee for Gold Tweet to take part in the March 16 event.

He said: “We have no problem supplementing him for the Stayers’ Hurdle, the race on the Thursday.

“I’m very excited and it is a dream for me and all my team.

“It’s a better level race and the Irish horses are a different quality I think.

“We will come like last time, relaxed and we will see. If he has a good chance then we are happy, but we are relaxed. We won last time but now the race is better.”

Mullins favouring Mares’ assignment for Princess Zoe

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Tony Mullins believes Princess Zoe has a “very serious winning chance” in whatever Cheltenham Festival race she runs in, with the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle her likely landing spot.

The popular grey made a winning hurdling debut, dead-heating in the a mares’ maiden at Leopardstown, having previously been a regular top-class performer on the Flat, where she secured a Group One triumph in the 2020 Prix du Cadran, as well as landing the Group Three Sagaro Stakes at Ascot.

While she was set to be retired for broodmare duties in 2023, she failed to meet her reserve price at the Tattersalls December Sale, prompting connections into a rethink.

Though she made a winning start over hurdles, sharing the spoils with Ladybank in the extended two-and-a-half-mile contest, bookmakers were largely unimpressed, offering a general 16-1 for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and 20-1 for the Albert Bartlett.

Mullins is eyeing the former, however, and said: “We were delighted with the run and relieved to get the dead-heat.

“Her preparation didn’t go perfect, in so far as we had a frozen week and a washed-out week the first two weeks of January.

Connections with Princess Zoe after her hurdling bow
Connections with Princess Zoe after her hurdling bow (PA)

“I thought it was a fantastic performance. Obviously, the betting suggests that I’m the only one impressed. I was surprised that she didn’t shorten, but maybe they’re right.

“I couldn’t be happier. Our preparation went right, our race went right and if everything goes right from here on in, I still believe that she is there with a very serious winning chance.”

The eight-year-old has the option of the three-mile Grade One Albert Bartlett and the Grade Two Mares’ Novices’ race, also known as the Dawn Run, which is run over a distance of two miles and one furlong.

Mullins is now swaying towards Princess Zoe taking on her own sex.

He added: “I thought the Albert Bartlett looked quite weak a month and a half ago, but there are a couple of horses there, Willie’s (Mullins) horse that won at Thurles (Embassy Gardens) and a couple of other ones I saw won in England. It is now a stronger Albert Bartlett.

“So while we are not writing anything in stone, we are now training her with the mares’ novice in mind.

Princess Zoe has always been the apple of Tony Mullins' eye
Princess Zoe has always been the apple of Tony Mullins’ eye (PA)

“If a couple of hotpots come out of the Albert Bartlett, we’ll see.

“We have the one beautiful thing that very few have – we know we have the class to win over two (miles), we know we have the stamina to win over three. We don’t care if it is good to firm – we have won Group races on the Flat with that – we don’t care if it’s heavy, we’ve won Group Ones on that. So, nothing matters to us now, only our preparation.

“I would say we are confident that everything has gone right. We’d love to have had two or three runs over hurdles, but considering everything, we are confident.

“If her preparation goes right, I will be interested to see what could beat her.

“She has travelled a lot and she has never had a problem with travelling. We have most things covered now and if everything goes right for the next three weeks, we’ll be there quite happy to take on whatever arrives.”

Princess Zoe could also return to the Flat in the summer, with the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot again on the agenda.

Kyprios (right) is the best stayer Mullins has seen
Kyprios (right) is the best stayer Mullins has seen (Adam Davy/PA)

She was runner-up to Subjectivist in 2021 and beaten six and three-quarter lengths by Kyprios in the two-and-a-half mile feature last June.

Mullins fears the Aidan O’Brien-trained winner will be near impossible to beat, yet is not going to duck the challenge.

“Paddy (Kehoe, part-owner) has said to me from the very start that racing is his priority and breeding is a lovely little added extra, but is the least thing on his mind,” said Mullins.

“As long as we feel she is safe and sound to stay racing, he wants to stay racing. He is a racing man and and great racing fan.

“Kyprios blew us out of the water altogether last year. I think he is an absolute phenomenon. I would put him above Yeats, Stradivarius and all of them. I think he’s the best stayer I’ve ever seen.

“He is so superior from anything we know of at the moment. He was better at Longchamp than he was at the start of the season, so he is only getting better.

“We are going to enjoy our racing and if he’s there it is going to be a pity – but we’ll give him a go!”

Lot Of Joy books Cheltenham ticket with Fairyhouse success

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Lot Of Joy appears to have booked her ticket to the Cheltenham Festival in opening her account over hurdles at Fairyhouse.

The five-year-old finished fourth in a Galway Premier Handicap on debut for Willie Mullins before placing in the Irish Cesarewitch when a length third to Waterville.

The daughter of Camelot has since finished second behind a pair of useful operators in both of her outings over timber, but made no mistake when sent off the 1-7 favourite for the Fairyhouse Schooling Races Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Having tracked the pace in the hands of Paul Townend, Lot Of Joy breezed to the front approaching two out before pulling an impressive 12 lengths clear of the runner-up to set up a tilt at the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park – a race for which she is as short as 8-1 with Paddy Power.

“She’s learning and bringing her back to two miles was probably the best thing to do. She’s learning to race like a National Hunt mare now rather than a Flat mare,” said Mullins.

“She’s settling better and jumping better. We’re very pleased with her progress.

“She’s in the mares’ novice at Cheltenham and I’d imagine that will be her next target. She’ll be easier to ride there as there is usually a very good pace in that. We’re looking forward to it.”

The victory was part of a treble on the day for Mullins who got on the board immediately when Instit (2-7 favourite) landed the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase in facile fashion.

The three-timer was secured when Viva Devito justified 4-5 favouritism in the Fairyhouse Easter Festival Maiden Hurdle.

Second to Paul Nolan’s Joyeux Machin over course and distance on his hurdles bow before finishing fifth at Leopardstown at Christmas, the six-year-old showed his quality when recording a decisive 21-length success.

“I’m not sure that he settled but he looks a powerful jumper,” said Mullins.

“He’s very forward going and I’d imagine I’ll plan a campaign at home and maybe end up at Fairyhouse at Easter.

“I’m hoping that going over fences could settle him and we’ll look forward to that, maybe next season.”

HMS Seahorse setting sail for Coral Cup challenge

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HMS Seahorse is being primed for a raid on the Coral Cup, following an impressive success at Navan.

The Paul Nolan-trained five-year-old showed good form last season, finishing third behind Vauban in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown in April, having previously been fourth in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival.

Given a break after finishing down the field in the Irish Cesarewitch in September, he relished the step up to two and a half miles when reappearing over hurdles last month, scoring with ease in soft ground – on his first start since a gelding operation.

“He was good at Navan,” said Nolan. “He looked like he stayed well and I think he’s a horse who is in no way ground dependent.

“He seems to be able to handle it every way and I’m hoping the improvement has come from him being gelded.

“There are times when it doesn’t make any difference at all, but this fella definitely seems to have improved for it.”

A son of Galileo, he holds an entry in Sunday’s Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Exeter, although his Enniscorthy handler says he is unlikely to travel.

“He’s got 4lb more with the English handicapper, but it’s more than likely we won’t go to Exeter,” added Nolan. “It has just given us more of an idea of where we stand. It is useful to know.

“I’d say more than likely we will go to the Coral Cup. It is just stepping up an extra furlong and we found out more about him last time.

“He won a mile-and-a-half handicap on summer soft ground at the Curragh, but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way – you can look like a stayer on the Flat, but there are times you might not stay two and a half or three miles over hurdles, but with him stepping him up in trip is definitely an asset.”

High Definition still in the frame for Cheltenham, despite weekend blip

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A tilt at the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is still on the cards for High Definition, despite his first foray into Grade One company over hurdles ending in disappointment at Leopardstown on Sunday.

A high-class performer and one-time Derby favourite when trained by Aidan O’Brien on the Flat, he made a seamless transition to the National Hunt sphere when making his debut for Joseph O’Brien at the Dublin track over Christmas – taking a maiden hurdle by a going-away four and a quarter lengths.

The from of that result got a boost when Jetara finished second in a mares’ Grade Three recently, while the sixth, Diverge, bolted up by 23 lengths at Punchestown on his next start and meant that High Definition reported for Grade One duty at the Dublin Racing Festival as the biggest danger to the then unbeaten Facile Vega.

Attempting to go stride-for-stride with the 4-9 favourite from the front, the son of Galileo only got as far as the fourth flight before unseating jockey JJ Slevin in a race that also saw the Willie Mullins’ hotpot blow out and the Supreme market turned on its head.

However, the five-year-old is reported to be none the worse for the experience and the Cheltenham Festival opener remains the likely next destination for High Definition providing he proves his well-being over the next few weeks.

“He has come out of the race well and we’ll see how he is over the next couple of weeks, but we’re potentially looking at going straight to the Supreme with him from here,” said O’Brien.

“We’ll see how he is before confirming that decision, but if he was to go to Cheltenham that would be the race.”

High Definition ridden by jockey J J Slevin (right) on their way to winning the All About Sunday Maiden Hurdle during day one of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival at Leopardstown Racecourse
High Definition ridden by jockey J J Slevin (right) on their way to winning the All About Sunday Maiden Hurdle during day one of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival at Leopardstown Racecourse (Brian Lawless/PA)

With no plans for another run before Cheltenham, High Definition could head to Prestbury Park with just the one completion over hurdles under his belt. But his handler is not concerned about a lack of experience and believes his jumping will stand up to the test of a Festival Grade One.

He continued: “I wouldn’t be too worried about that (jumping experience). It would have been nice to get a nice clear round in Leopardstown, but I don’t think he did anything wrong and I was very pleased with how he jumped the second and third hurdle.”

O’Brien also looks to have an ace card to play in the novice chase division at Cheltenham in the form of last year’s Martin Pipe winner Banbridge.

His Festival success in 2022 came over an intermediate trip, but he showed his adaptability when returning to Prestbury Park to land the Arkle Trial over two miles in November.

Banbridge, here ridden by jockey JJ Slevin winning the From The Horses Mouth Podcast Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, has options open ahead of a return to Prestbury Park
Banbridge, here ridden by jockey JJ Slevin winning the From The Horses Mouth Podcast Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, has options open ahead of a return to Prestbury Park (Tim Goode/PA)

Having stayed on strongly to grab second in the Irish Arkle at the weekend, the Owning Hill trainer admits the sensible thing could be to return to two and a half miles for the Turners Novices’ Chase next month. But the impressive nature of Mighty Potter’s win at Leopardstown means all options are being kept open for now.

“He stayed on all the way up to the line. He missed the last which probably cost him a few lengths as well, but we were very pleased with the run in what was an extremely hot novice chase,” said O’Brien, reflecting on Banbridge’s Dublin Racing Festival outing.

“We will keep his options open in both the two-mile and middle-distance novice chase (at Cheltenham) and a decision will be made closer to the time.

“From watching the race in Leopardstown it would suggest it makes sense to go up in trip, but then that looks a very hot race as well so we’ll keep our options open and a plan will be made after we’ve spoken to Ronnie (Bartlett, owner) closer to the time.”

Phil Kirby nominates Topham target for Top Ville Ben

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Phil Kirby is eyeing the Randox Topham Chase for Top Ville Ben following his brave third at Leopardstown during the Dublin Racing Festival.

The forward-going 11-year-old was one of only three UK raiders to line-up in Ireland over the course of the two-day meeting,but that enterprise was rewarded when the Green Oaks Farm stalwart brought home €13,500 of prize-money for connections following his placed effort in the Bulmers Leopardstown Handicap Chase.

Although sent off a rather unfancied 28-1 in the hands of Thomas Dowson, he gave a bold sight – jumping and galloping with aplomb close to the pace and only giving way late in the day to eventual winner The Goffer and Glamorgan Duke who picked up the silver medal.

Kirby was delighted to see the adaptable son of Beneficial run to form and also praised the warm hospitality both himself and Top Ville Ben’s owners received at Leopardstown.

He said: “He ran really well and we were really pleased.

“Obviously we would have liked to have won but the horse ran really well, the owners had a brilliant time and we were all very well looked after. It’s just a shame the ground dried up a little bit. I think with softer ground, he would have finished even closer.

“There were no excuses though, everything went to plan really and we were sat where we wanted to be and we came there with every chance – he just wasn’t quite good enough on the day. He’s done everything right though and I suppose he’s a bit exposed being a bit older than the rest of them.

“We gave our running, ran and jumped well and it was a great day out. You would certainly go back and it was good prize-money – it was definitely worth going that’s for sure.

“Hopefully there will be another nice day for him as long as the handicapper doesn’t do anything drastic – or anything at all really. I think he’s about right where he is.”

Top Ville Ben (left), The Goffer (centre) and Glamorgan Duke (right) jump the last in the Bulmers Leopardstown Handicap Chase at Leopardstown on Day two of the Dublin Racing Festival (
Top Ville Ben (left), The Goffer (centre) and Glamorgan Duke (right) jump the last in the Bulmers Leopardstown Handicap Chase at Leopardstown on Day two of the Dublin Racing Festival (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

Ground will determine if Top Ville Ben will run again before his spring target and tackling the Grand National fences for a third time at Aintree on April 14.

“The main plan now will be the Topham,” continued Kirby. “Whether we have a run in between or not, we will have to see how things pan out. It’s a dry forecast so I can’t see anything happening too soon, but the plan would be hopefully we get some nice ground at Aintree and we’ll have a go at the Topham.

“I think if we got some soft ground he would go there with a nice chance. Although I think the drier it is, his chance dries up a bit with it. The more rain, the more in his favour it would be.”

Conditions are also set to dictate where Jason The Militant will be next seen with an outing at the Cheltenham Festival an option, provided rain arrives to slow the ground up at Prestbury Park.

“We’re a bit stuck with him really as he is probably a bit more ground dependent than Ben,” added Kirby.

“We’ll have to see how things go but there is a handicap at the Cheltenham Festival (County Hurdle) he can run in and there is also the Champion Hurdle. If that was to cut up and it came up soft, then there is probably worse places we could go to try to pick up some good prize-money.”

He went on: “I thought he ran really well for his first run back and he probably needed it a little bit. He didn’t do an awful lot wrong really, he was just given an impossible task in a handicap first time out for a while.

“We needed to get a run into him and the ground was a bit too quick but we got away with it. I wouldn’t really want to run him on ground like that too often.”

Jonjo O’Neill in no rush with promising Saint Davy

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Unbeaten Saint Davy will continue his education in the next couple of weeks following a setback, Jonjo O’Neill has confirmed.

The Gay Smith-owned gelding took a Carlisle bumper in October and made a winning start to his hurlding career when winning at Chepstow on Welsh National day.

O’Neill said: “Saint Davy is grand. He is in to run somewhere. He is OK. He has had a bit of a setback – his blood was a bit wrong for a while, so we’ve left him alone and now he’s hopefully coming back again.

“He is a big, fine horse – a big, old chaser. You’d hope he would be one for the future. He has a lot to learn and is still a baby.

“He did well to win (at Chepstow) – I didn’t think he’d win to be honest.”

Though he holds entries in both the Ballymore and Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival, O’Neill is reluctant to commit him for either at present.

He added: “It’s possibly too soon. I don’t know is the answer, really. We’ll see how he runs, but he hasn’t got much experience to be fair.

“He is a nice horse for the future and I’m not going to be rushing him. Luckily enough we have patient owners. It will be up to me to see if he goes there or not, but I’d like to see him run again and I’d feel a bit happier. I like him, but I just don’t know until he runs.”

Chasing Fire has sparked Supreme ambitions for Murphy

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Exciting prospect Chasing Fire is on course to appear next in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Olly Murphy-trained six-year-old took his record over timber to a perfect three with victory at Sandown on Saturday, to stay unbeaten in his career to date having also won a bumper and his point-to-point.

Sent off the 4-6 favourite for what was a step up in class in the Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle, he handled it with ease to account for market rival Iliko D’Olivate – to whom he was giving 4lb – by six lengths.

“I was chuffed with him, he did really well. He was given a mark of 136 and I’m going to go straight to the Supreme with him, all being well,” said Murphy.

“He’s done everything right and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet.

“He’s on track and we’re looking forward to it.”

Meanwhile, Murphy could step Thunder Rock up in trip for his next outing following his good third to Gerri Colombe in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase on the same Sandown card.

Having won his first two starts over fences, he lost his unbeaten record to The Real Whacker at Cheltenham on his penultimate run and filled the same spot on his first test in Grade One company.

Thunder Rock, owned by the McNeill family and Ian Dale, had travelled well at the back of the seven-strong field before making stealthy headway approaching the second-last in the two-and-a-half-mile contest, only for Gerri Colombe to find plenty.

In finishing five and a half lengths adrift of Gordon Elliott’s impressive winner, Murphy was more than satisfied with the run.

He could swerve both respective Cheltenham engagements, the Brown Advisory and Turners Novices’ Chases, however.

“I was delighted with him. I thought he was going to win at the second-last, but he just kind of flattened out,” said Murphy.

“I would imagine we will step him up to three miles, which I never thought I’d be saying. I’m not sure where he is going to go, but he might just be less likely, rather than more likely, to go to Cheltenham now.

“Whether we freshen him up and go straight to Aintree for the three-mile race (Mildmay Novices’ Chase) or give him a race in between and go to Cheltenham, there’s still a lot to be discussed with owners and internal race managers.”

Murphy’s string has been in fine form of late and he added: “I built myself up and genuinely thought he’d win on Saturday.

“He has run very well and he was an 11-2 shot. He has probably run to his odds, if you look at it from that point of view.

“We just fell short with him, but he is a good horse and he is going to win a lot of races. He’s rated 149 and he will have another race or two as a novice. He is going to be an exciting horse to go to war with next year.”

Murphy also suggested a return to a flatter track might suit.

He added: “I didn’t think the ground was too bad on the chase track. I think he was as good as he was on the day and I don’t think there was any excuse. He got into a nice rhythm and got a good ride from Adrian Heskin.

Olly Murphy could swerve Cheltenham with Thunder Rock
Olly Murphy could swerve Cheltenham with Thunder Rock (Edward Whitaker/PA)

“At the second-last I thought he was going to take off, but the leader pulled away. He ran very well and I’m very proud of the horse, and he has been a star for the last year and a half.

“Arguably his best runs have been on flat tracks, that’s the only thing I’d say.

“He was very impressive round Wetherby when he beat a horse of Ben Case’s (Cobblers Dream) who won the Lanzarote Hurdle afterwards. He was very impressive at Ayr, he won round Musselburgh, and arguably he might be a better horse on a flat track. I might be completely wrong, though!”

Ruth Jefferson mulling Gold run for Sounds Russian

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Ruth Jefferson will leave Sounds Russian in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup and “chill for a bit” before deciding whether or not to take on Galopin Des Champs in chasing’s blue riband.

The eight-year-old Sholokov gelding has been a model of consistency, winning four of his nine starts over fences and finishing runner-up on three more occasions.

Sounds Russian ran Into Overdrive to half a length when second in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day and then chased home Ahoy Senor in the Grade Two Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham last month.

The Norton-based handler will now take a step back and deliberate whether or not to go for Gold after watching Galopin Des Champs win the Irish Gold Cup with some ease at the weekend.

“We’ve left him in it and will consider pondering it,” said Jefferson.

“Galopin Des Champs was good. If you want to find the only negative you could possibly find, it is that the time was slow.

“It is like anything, you can make pros and cons to every horse in the race, including mine. So we will just chill and sit for a bit, and go from there.

“Whether it is a good Gold Cup or a bad Gold Cup, it will take a bit of winning. I’d rather win a bad Gold Cup than never win one.”

Sounds Russian is a general 20-1 chance for the extended three-and-a-quarter-mile March 17 feature.

Under Sean Quinlan, he had former King George VI Chase winner Frodon and Grand National winner Noble Yeats behind when producing an eye-catching run on his Prestbury Park debut.

Jefferson feels he has every right to line up, given his dependability.

“Sounds Russian is Mr Consistent, so we will leave him in and continue thinking about it,” she added.

“You can sit and make a case for him being there. So for the time being, we will leave him in and see where we are at.”