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PROTEKTORAT is set to carry 11st 6lb in Saturday week’s Paddy Power Gold Cup and has been made favourite with Paddy at the time of writing.
Dan Skelton’s charge was last seen in action at Aintree where he kept on well to win the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase by three-and-three-quarter lengths and Paddy’s prestigious contest looks to be an ideal early-season target for him.
Owner John Hales, (who owns in partnership with legendary former Manchester Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason and Lisa Hales) is no stranger to Paddy Power Gold Cup glory and said: “I’m very happy with what he’s got and I expect him to run a big race. Dan is very pleased with him and he likes Cheltenham so, we’re probably hoping that he wins the race.”
Fusil Raffles (11st 4lb), who was a fortunate winner of last Saturday’s Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, is one of three possibles owned Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. They also Caribean Boy, who won a Grade 2 novices’ chase at Newbury a year ago, and Janika (11st 5lb), who is on a mark 9lbs lower than when fourth and a beaten favourite in Aintree’s Grade 3 Topham Chase in 2019.
Ask about the prospects of the trio, Anthony Bromley, Munir and Souede’s racing manager, said: “The only one of ours that is likely to be confirmed is Caribean Boy – he’s unlikely to go for the Grand Sefton – and the Paddy Power Gold Cup is the latest plan for him.
“It will be interesting to see what others are confirmed next Monday, but we knew his handicap mark, so his weight could go up a bit higher depending if others above him come out. He’s a horse who goes well fresh, it’s a big prize and he is one of our tallest horses, so we’re not too worried about his weight, It’s probably more about whether his handicap mark is fair or not” Bromley said.
“He’s in good shape and goes well fresh, so Double Green team are pinning our hopes on him. Daryl Jacob can ride at Cheltenham and he’s at Wincanton this weekend, so can’t be at Aintree which is another factor.
“He did run quite well at the Festival at Cheltenham in the spring and not quite so well at Aintree over the National fences. We wouldn’t want the ground too heavy, just nice genuine good to soft ground would be perfect for him.”
Elsewhere, the Kim Bailey-trained Espoir De Romay, who was third in Sunday’s Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle, has been handed top weight of 11st 12lb for the showpiece event of Cheltenham’s November meeting as the jumps season revs up a gear.
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