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Monday, 09 January 2006 |
Record number of horses for Gold Cup
A record total of 64 horses, a total that includes all the market
leaders, and headed by current ante-post favourites Beef or Salmon and
Kingscliff, have been entered in March's Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Beef or Salmon was a winner last time out at Leopardstown but lost to Kingscliff in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November.
Trainer Martin Pipe leads the entries with five, including Paddy Power
Gold Cup winner Our Vic and 2004 Hennessy Gold Cup hero Celestial Gold.
Martin Pipe has also entered Iznogoud, Rowland Meyrick Chase winner
Therealbandit and Joacci, who impressed when winning the Cheltenham
Racing Handicap Chase on New Year's Day.
Sadly for this year's Gold Cup the 2005 winner Kicking King has been
ruled out through injury, while three-time victor Best Mate collapsed
and died during a race at Exeter in November.
Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham's managing director, said: "While we are
obviously sad that the last two Gold Cup winners will not be bidding to
win the contest again in 2006, the race continues to be the one prize
that every owner and trainer dreams of winning."
Other major names entered are Take the Stand, who finished second to
Kicking King in last year's Gold Cup, Coral Welsh National winner
Silver Birch and Monkerhostin, who ran Kicking King close in the King
George VI Chase on Boxing Day.
Fondmort, a winner last time out at Cheltenham on New Year's Day,
Impek, trained by Best Mate's handler Henrietta Knight, last year's
Grand National winner Hedgehunter and Sir Rembrandt, who has been
placed in the race for the past two seasons, are all included.
Others horses to be included are 2004 Ladbrokes World Hurdle winner
Iris's Gift, One Knight, winner of the 2003 Royal & SunAlliance
Chase, and Fundamentalist, who took the 2004 Royal & SunAlliance
Novices' Hurdle.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 12 January 2006 )
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