DAVID PIPE will decide later in the week which of his three horses line up for Saturday’s Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
The Pond House handler had three horses left among the 32 entries at yesterday’s five-day declaration stage.
Sunday’s Warwick winner Our Vic, who is down to carry joint top-weight of 11st12lb with Gwanako in the Grade Three handicap, could run along with Charlie Hall Chase runner-up Tamarinbleu and Friday’s Sandown winner Seven Is My Number.
Atouchbetweencara is the general 5-1 favourite with most firms, with Pipe’s shortest-priced option begin Seven Is My Number, who is 7-1 with Ladbrokes, totesport, Victor Chandler and Skybet.
Pipe said: “Our Vic has come out of Sunday’s win at Warwick very well and he escapes a penalty for the Boylesports.com Gold Cup.
“He could go for Saturday’s race, or else we are toying with running him in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day. We will make up our minds later this week.
“Tamarinbleu ran a great race at Wetherby in the Charlie Hall Chase on his reappearance and he is going to go to either Cheltenham or the Peterborough Chase.
“We will study the five-day confirmations and speak to the owners before coming to a decision.
“It was a good performance from Seven Is My Number to win at Sandown but I’m not sure how much you can take out of the race.
“Timmy (Murphy) said that it didn’t ride like a great race and Seven Is My Number has gone up 9lb for the win.
“We have left him in at the five-day stage and again we will mull over whether to run him in the next few days.
“He was visually impressive at Sandown and it would be great if the form did work out.”
Gwanako – an 18-1 chance with totesport – is one of three horses entered by champion trainer Paul Nicholls. Chapoturgeon – an 8-1 chance with Ladbrokes, William Hill, totesport and Victor Chandler and totesport’s 13-2 second favourite Poquelin complete his possible team.
Nicholls said: “Chapoturgeon will definitely run as he will not mind the ground. The same goes for Gwanako as he doesn’t mind soft going either,” said the Ditcheat handler.
“Poquelin is much more ground dependent – he would not want it too soft and we will see what conditions bring up.
“If Poquelin runs, then Ruby Walsh will ride him. If not, then he will partner Gwanako and I expect that Timmy Murphy will be on board Chapoturgeon.”
Nicky Richards may run the talented Skippers Brig, who would shoulder a 5lb penalty following a recent win at Ayr.
Skippers Brig is 16-1 with William Hill, Coral, totesport and Skybet and Richards said: “We’ve just confirmed him this morning so we’ll see how much rain they get down there and see how the horse is.
“He seems very well this morning and has never left a scrap of food since he ran. He seems to have taken the race very well.
“I’m more than tempted to let him take his chance as he’s fresh and well and I do think he’s a very talented horse. He’s certainly a fine horse to have around and we might find out a bit more about him this weekend.”
Paddy Power Gold Cup hero Tranquil Sea was as expected taken out of the race by Edward O’Grady.
TODAY’S NAP: Montana Gold (3.10pm Fontwell).
