PLANET OF SOUND has plenty of options having made the step up from novice company to win yesterday’s William Hill Gold Cup Chase at Exeter.
The Philip Hobbs-trained seven-year-old gave jockey Richard Johnson a fourth victory in the race and is now as low as 14-1 with Stan James for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham. Although Paddy Power and totesport offer 25-1.
Before that Hobbs is looking a valuable handicap at Prestbury Park next month of the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon.
Yesterday’s extended 2m1f contest has been won in the past by such stars as Best Mate and Viking Flagship. And although the Grade Two limited handicap didn’t feature names as big as that, but it was a thrilling race.
Planet Of Sound, sent off the 4-1 favourite, had to carry just 10st9lb and used it to his benefit.
Having been third in both the Arkle Trophy and at Aintree, the seven-year-old came from behind to get the better of Mahogany Blaze and the well-backed eventual runner-up Cornas (5-1).
Paul Nicholls’ Twist Magic, despite carrying top weight of 11st10lb, made a pleasing seasonal return to take third.
But of the winner, Hobbs said: “My first two runners today ran dreadfully so I am delighted with him.
“Richard has always thought he should go over two and a half miles and looking at that race, he needs to step up.
“I don’t know where we go now. We might look at the Peterborough and possibly the big two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at the Cheltenham December meeting.”
Champion trainer Nicholls thinks Twist Magic’s run has put in the right shape for next month’s Tingle Creek at Sandown.
He said: “That was a terrific run at the weights and he will go for the Tingle Creek now. On decent ground, he’d have been even closer.”
Meanwhile Henrietta Knight is expected to send Calgary Bay to Haydock for his seasonal return in the Betfair Chase two weeks on Saturday.
A smart novice hurdler, Calgary Bay started his novice chasing career well but despite being the ante-post favourite for the Arkle Trophy, he failed to shine.
The six-year-old is entered in the Hennessy Gold Cup but Knight believes he is a better horse now and may head to Haydock. Knight said: “Calgary Bay is very well. He’s very much stronger than last year.
“We’ll look at the Hennessy Gold Cup, he’s got an entry but he’s more likely to go for a handicap chase, there is one at Haydock for him in round about three weeks.
“He’s only six, going on seven, so he has plenty of time on his side and he looks much stronger this year.”
TODAY’S NAP: Hard Ball (2.50pm Nottingham).
