9th
December 2013 - Home Farm is among 18 confirmations for the £100,000
Grade Three Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup (2.25pm), run over two miles and
five furlongs at Cheltenham on the second day of The International, Saturday,
December 14.
Arthur
Moore's charge finished a close third in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse
in April and shaped promisingly on his seasonal reappearance at Naas on
November 9 with a close third behind Rupert Lamb over two miles.
The
lightly-raced six-year-old got off the mark at the third time of asking over
fences in a beginners' chase at Fairyhouse in February, seeing off subsequent
Kerry National winner White Star Line and Grade One-winning hurdler Marasonnien
by five lengths and a nose.
Moore
reported: "Home Farm is likely to run in the Stewart Family Thank You
Gold Cup and David Casey will ride, all being well. I was really happy with his
first run at Naas and he has been fine since then.
"We
are bringing him over because it looks like an ideal race for him. He has a
nice weight and it will help us determine where we are going for the rest of
the season. He has only had five starts over fences so this will be super
experience for him.
"We
used to always come to England in the old days when we had the right horses,
rather than just waiting for the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals. We have won
Imperial Cups, Game Spirits and Victor Chandlers but we just haven't had the
horses lately."
Also
among the entries for the Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup is Paddy Power Gold
Cup hero Johns Spirit and the J P McManus-owned trio of Cantlow, Colour
Squadron and Tap Night. Paul Nicholls, who has captured three of the
last four renewals, could be represented by Grandioso, while impressive
Sandown scorer Kapga De Cerisy and highly-regarded Salut Flo are
also engaged.
Racing
at Cheltenham gets underway at 12.10pm with the £20,000 JCB Triumph Hurdle
Trial over two miles and a furlong. The 13 entries include facile Sandown
victor Kentucky Hyden, French import Vincenzo Mio and comfortable
Market Rasen winner Tiger Roll.
A total
of 17 entries have been received for the £30,000 Jenny Mould Memorial Handicap
Chase (1.15pm) over an extended two miles, while the David Pipe-trained Kings
Palace is among 10 entries for the £30,000 Grade Two Albert Bartlett
Novices' Hurdle (1.50pm) over three miles.
French
Champion Hurdle hero Gemix headlines 10 entries for the concluding
£40,000 Grade Two Osborne House Relkeel Hurdle (3.35pm) over an extended two
and a half miles. The five-year-old could clash with Diakali, Glens
Melody and Ptit Zig, all Grade One winners in 2013.
The
£20,000 Ryman Stationery Novices' Chase (12.40pm) and the £130,000 Grade Two
StanJames.com International Hurdle (3.00pm) have reopened for entries until
11am tomorrow.
Going
The
going at Cheltenham is currently Good on the Chase and Hurdle courses
and Good, Good to Firm in places on the Cross Country Course.
The
outlook remains cloudy but dry and watering is taking place as necessary to
maintain conditions.
About
The International
The
International takes place at Cheltenham on Friday, December 13 and Saturday,
December 14, offering more than £520,000 in prize money over the two days.
Key
races include the £130,000 Grade Two StanJames.com International, a leading
trial for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at The Festival, the £100,000 Grade
Three Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup, the £45,000 Grade Three Majordomo
Hospitality Handicap Chase and the £40,000 Grade Two Osborne House Relkeel
Hurdle.
The
Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase also takes place over
Cheltenham's unique Cross Country Course and completes Europe's Crystal Cup
Challenge.
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