Legal Right ready for a Cup triumph

Tomorrow's Martell Cup at Aintree could crown this season's champion staying chaser rather than play its usual second fiddle to the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Liverpool's Grand National meeting benefits directly from the cancellation of the Gloucestershire track's National Hunt Festival with a three-day fixture of a quality and quantity unparalleled in recent years.

Although the injured Looks Like Trouble's 15-length victory over Dorans Pride in Down Royal's Champion Chase last November sets a lofty standard in terms of ratings, this 3m1f contest could throw up a performance worthy of comparison.

Bar the conspicuous absence of Ireland's unusu-ally strong hand of top-flight chasers, the main players are certainly here.

Should First Gold reproduce the form of his ten-length King George VI Chase demolition, he will take some pegging back here. But he is not the wunderkind it was supposed back on Boxing Day, as his subsequent defeat - whether 80 per cent fit or not - by novice Shotgun Willy at Newbury proved. He may not even be the best chaser in France - compatriot Vieux Beaufai has beaten him twice.

Ground conditions were only slightly slower at Kempton to what the Doumen team can expect here, so First Gold shouldn't be opposed on that alone. But he will pay the penalty if brushing through his fences at the merciless pace that championship fields pelt along at on this track and is conceding weight to opponents he would faced on level terms in the Gold Cup - notably, Legal Right and Lord Noelie.

Legal Right is rarely to be found sound at Jonjo O'Neill's Cumbria yard, but he can gallop all right. He's been progressing in leaps and bounds since early last term, rising rapidly through the handicap ranks, and may not have finished yet. He possesses speed enough to win at 2m4f yet stamina enough to last home strongly over three miles in testing ground at Ascot. This is his prime opportunity to hit the big-time.

Last year's Royal & SunAlliance victor Lord Noelie is another to consider at big price. He needs good ground or faster and at least three miles, which explains away two dismal efforts so far this term. But he is open to further improvement and trainer Henrietta Knight always has her horses in top form for their big days.