Business as usual at Cheltenham

13 April 2012

See More Business was today given the go-ahead for a clash with Cyfor Malta in an exciting renewal of Cheltenham's Pillar Property Chase this Saturday.

The 1999 Gold Cup hero must get his Festival claims back on track after finishing only fifth in the capital's King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Pilot Mick Fitzgerald reported his mount was never jumping well on that occasion and suggested he could desert him for Marlborough, handled by his retaining trainer Nicky Henderson, in chasing's blue riband event on 15 March. But he keeps the ride on the Paul Nicholls-trained chaser this Saturday.

See More Business is still currently vying with the long-sidelined Cyfor Malta for Gold Cup second favouritism behind emphatic King George winner, First Gold. The pair clashed in the 1999 Pillar when Cyfor Malta won by four lengths from Go Ballistic, with a further six lengths back to See More Business in third.

But Cyfor Malta then fell injured and See More Business reversed that form seven weeks later by accounting for Go Ballistic by a length in the Gold Cup. He finished fourth to Looks Like Trouble last year and, if winning again in March, will become the first horse in history to win back his Gold Cup crown after a defeat.

"See More Business runs in the Pillar now that Irish horse, Rince Ri, isn't going to be there," said Nicholls. "I want to get another run into him before the Gold Cup as well and this race fits in nicely with Wincanton's Jim Ford Chase on 22 February. It also looks like being soft ground at Cheltenham, which helps.

"I want to run him twice before the Festival because he hasn't had that much practice this season. We were disappointed with his run at Kempton, but we've been in this situation before and he's bounced back. Horses can't run at the top of their form all the time, although he's come pretty close to it.

"I'm not worried about jockeys. Mick rides on Saturday, but four others have also won on him. There's a long time between now and Cheltenham. A lot can happen."

Nicholls also warned that all five of his novice chase entries at the Festival would be doubtful runners if the ground came up fast. The Ditcheat handler's well-fancied duo, Exit To Wave and Shotgun Willy, respectively featured among the 51 and 61 entries unveiled today for the Irish Independent Arkle and Royal & SunAlliance Chases. Exit To Wave, who beat Dusk Duel at Ascot nine days ago, will run next at Warwick on 17 February. Shotgun Willy may also run at the same fixture, although he has an alternative engagement at Newbury a week earlier.

Nicholls also talked up the chances of Inn Antique for the Arkle, but said Satshoon - who runs this Saturday at Cheltenham - only had an outside chance in the Royal & SunAlliance, while Lakefield Rambler is more likely to line up in the four-mile National Hunt chase.

Several Festival wagers will have already gone astray, with many horses featuring prominently in ante-post lists without even an entry in Cheltenham's two novice-only chases.

The absentees include Grimes, Youlneverwalkalone and Sausalito Bay, who will stick to hurdles.

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Business as usual at Cheltenham

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