Gold Cup hope Rupert to have sights lowered for the time being
Posted by Robert James on Thursday, December 1, 2011
Last season’s classy staying novice chaser Time For Rupert, a disappointing fifth behind Kauto Star in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock in mid-November, is to be given a confidence boosting run in lower grade before being gradually built back up for a potential challenger at chasing’s blue riband event at the Cheltenham Festival in March, writes Elliot Slater.
Paul Webber’s talented performer, runner-up to the great Big Buck’s in the 2010 Ladbrokes World Hurdle and unbeaten over fences last season prior to finishing fifth to Bostons Angel in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham (after which it was revealed he had burst a blood vessel), had made a fine start to this term when running well to push Weird Al all the way in the Grade 2 Bet2365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby at the end of October and was expected by many giving out racing betting tips to be very much in the thick of the action at Haydock in the race that produced such an extraordinary performance from Kauto Star in beating Gold Cup winner Long Run by a comfortable eight-lengths. But Time For Rupert was in touch with the leaders until coming under pressure at the sixth from home in the Betfair Chase, after which he faded fairly tamely and eventually crossed the line some 25-lengths behind the winner.
Connections were understandably disappointed by the effort but Webber rightly pointed out that this was only the fifth run for his stable star over fences and there should be better to come in due course. In the meantime a drop in grade to tackle a graduation chase at Newbury on December 14 is on the agenda before returning to more serious competition with the Argento Chase, a recognised Gold Cup trial, being lined up for late-January. Time For Rupert remains a best priced 25/1 in the horse racing betting for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, although some firms still have plenty of respect for him and go no bigger than 14/1.
Paul Webber’s talented performer, runner-up to the great Big Buck’s in the 2010 Ladbrokes World Hurdle and unbeaten over fences last season prior to finishing fifth to Bostons Angel in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham (after which it was revealed he had burst a blood vessel), had made a fine start to this term when running well to push Weird Al all the way in the Grade 2 Bet2365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby at the end of October and was expected by many giving out racing betting tips to be very much in the thick of the action at Haydock in the race that produced such an extraordinary performance from Kauto Star in beating Gold Cup winner Long Run by a comfortable eight-lengths. But Time For Rupert was in touch with the leaders until coming under pressure at the sixth from home in the Betfair Chase, after which he faded fairly tamely and eventually crossed the line some 25-lengths behind the winner.
Connections were understandably disappointed by the effort but Webber rightly pointed out that this was only the fifth run for his stable star over fences and there should be better to come in due course. In the meantime a drop in grade to tackle a graduation chase at Newbury on December 14 is on the agenda before returning to more serious competition with the Argento Chase, a recognised Gold Cup trial, being lined up for late-January. Time For Rupert remains a best priced 25/1 in the horse racing betting for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, although some firms still have plenty of respect for him and go no bigger than 14/1.