SNOOPY LOOPY may be back in action in action looking for more big-race success in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup this Saturday following his victory in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.
Peter Bowen’s 10-year-old landed Saturday’s Grade One chase at Haydock by half-a-length from Tamarinbleu as dual winner and 2007 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kauto Star came a cropper at the final fence.
But despite Snoopy Loopy’s exertions Bowen – who capped a fine weekend at the North West Masters with Serabad’s win in the toteswinger Handicap Hurdle at Aintree yesterday – is considering running in Newbury’s prestigious handicap.
The weights are due to rise 14lb at today’s confirmation stage, and Snoopy Loopy currently has 10st 9lb as well as a 6lb penalty for his Haydock win.
Bowen said: “We’ve obviously got to have a look at the Hennessy now. The weights are going up a stone and they can’t put any horse’s weight up above 11st12lb, so he’d lose a lot of his penalty as well.
“Snoopy Loopy is fine and full of it today.
“We will see how he is – but I probably wouldn’t be in favour of running him so quick, because I think that’s what beat him in the Charlie Hall Chase, which came six days after he had run at Aintree. He is not in the King George so we will have to see what else there is.”
Fallen hero Kauto Star is still expected to bid for a third King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day despite his latest last-fence mishap when stumbling and unseating Sam Thomas at Haydock.
Some bookmakers eased him slightly to 6-4 favourite for the three-mile Grade One chase he has won for the past two seasons.
Trainer Paul Nicholls is looking to give him time to come back to his best before Kempton.
He said: “I haven’t had chance to see the replay, but I did speak to Sam. I just want get home tonight to see the horse and get him right for the King George. That’s what we are going to do, get him back to his best for that.”
Nicholls added: “We were always going to go fresh for the Gold Cup after Kempton and now we’ve got five weeks to get him back to his best.”
