Fullandby on song for big sprint double bid

Sep 19 2007 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

FULLANDBY bids to become the first horse in 15 years to complete the Portland Handicap/totesport.com Ayr Gold Cup double on Saturday.

And trainer Tim Etherington believes his charge is well up to the task.

The five-year-old scored at Doncaster last Saturday and nows looks to emulate the flying filly Lochsong, who was the last to win both races in the same season back in 1992.

Fullandby – who is a best-priced 14-1 with Ladbrokes, BetDirect and Better – will carry a 5lb penalty at Ayr this weekend following his short-head victory over Paradise Isle at Doncaster. He must carry 9st 2lb in the six-furlong showpiece and with top weight Borderlescott expected to run their will be no further rise.

Etherington said: “Touch wood, he’s marvellous and we’re very happy with him.

“All being well, we are ready to go on Saturday. He’ll just have a canter or two, we’ll turn him out and keep him fresh and well if we can.”

The Malton trainer, though, is mindful that two quick runs in prestigious Heritage Handicaps in a week can take his toll.

But he said: “It does make a difference to a degree.

“You’ve just got to hope that your horse is one of those that bounces back from it.

“Obviously it’s hard to tell until they actually run, but we are pleased with the way he’s come out of the race and I think he’s fine. In the Ayr Gold Cup, you need the draw and the pace to be right, but I wouldn’t swap him. We are all excited about it and it’s just lovely to go there hopefully with a horse with some sort of chance.”

Fullandby rider, PJ McDonald, will be bidding for a unique double himself at the Scottish track. The dual purpose jockey was on board in last week’s win in the Portland at Doncaster. But it is adding to his win in the Scottish Grand National on Hot Weld at Ayr in April that would be special.

Sprint king David Nicholls has 19 among the 133 entries at the five-day declaration stage.

The Yorkshire trainer has won the race four times in the last decade. His chief hope is favourite Indian Trail, who is a best-priced 8-1 with William Hill, totesport, VCbet and BetFred.

Nicholls expects to have four or five runners in the race and he said yesterday: “I’ll know more nearer the time, but we’ll possibly run about four or five.”

Frankie Dettori has ridden Indian Trail to his last two wins at Sandown and Haydock, but Nicholls is not sure if he will be this time. He added: “Frankie has different commitments and we are a fair way down the list – Ray (Cochrane, Dettori’s agent) will keep in touch and if he can ride he will.”

Borderlescott, who was second last year, bids to go one better than last year for trainer Robin Bastiman.

He was only a length behind Fonthill Road 12 months ago and will again carry 9st12lb

Borderlescott was also only just denied back-to-back wins by Zidane in the Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood last month and the five-year-old filled the runner-up role behind by Hellvelyn at Beverley on his last start.

Bastiman said: “He’s up for it. He ran well enough last year. He was on the stands side and the winner was on the far side, it’s all about where the pace is. He’s the only sprinter I know who hasn’t run a bad race all year.

“The ground there is okay for him at the moment. He’s better on good, good to soft ground, but I don’t want it to go heavy with him carrying top weight. He’s got a lot of weight for a little horse. He’s well, touch wood, and I just hope he keeps right for the weekend.”

Meanwhile Sagara, who was second to Soldier Of Fortune in the Prix Neil at Longchamp on Sunday, could run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe next month.

Trained by Jonathan Pease and owned by the Niarchos, who teamed up to win the Arc with Bago in 2004, are keeping their options open. The ground on October 7 will be a factor as the three-year-old Sadler’s Wells colt, who is a best-priced 25-1 with totesport for Arc glory, prefers a decent surface.

Alan Cooper, racing manager to the Niarchos family, said: “Sagara ran very well and showed his previous form was not quite right.

Depending how he comes out of the race, we will be looking at the Arc, although it is early days.

“He seems to be a Sadler’s Wells that enjoys faster ground, and that is something we will take into account.”

TODAY’S NAP:Malapropism (3.10pm Beverley).