From RP.......
by Rodney Masters
VOY POR USTEDES (pictured above, pink cap) may make his seasonal debut at Cheltenham next Sunday in a £50,000 handicap over 2m, trainer Alan King said on Friday.
Fast ground frustrated King's original plan to launch his Queen Mother Champion Chase winner this week in the William Hill Gold Cup at Exeter, and also his alternative option, Saturday's totescoop6 Elite Hurdle at Wincanton. Now King may turn his attention to the £50,000 paddypower.com Handicap Chase.
“It wouldn't be ideal starting off under top weight ina handicap, but we're running rather short of options,” said the trainer. “He's not a definite runner at this stage because obviously ground conditions will again be a factor.”
Cheltenham is engaged in a watering programme, and course spokesman Andy Clifton said on Friday the going on the chase and hurdle courses was officially ‘good'. “We also hand 5mm of rain on Thursday, and that has helped,” he added.
Stablemate My Way De Solzen, winner of the Arkle Chase last season, is on course to clash with Kauto Star in Haydock's Betfair Chase on Saturday - providing the ground eases in the next fortnight.
King added: "It's pretty likely that My Way De Solzen will go to the Betfair Chase as that would be the first logical step. He's fine and ready to run but we need the rain.”
In Betfair's market on the Betfair Chase Kauto Star was trading as 11-10 favourite on Friday afternon ahead of My Way De Solzen at 4-1 and Exotic Dancer at 8-1.
Jessica Harrington has mapped out a return for top-class hurdler Macs Joy in the Maplewood Developments Hurdle at Punchestown next Sunday.
Harrington said: “It's great to have him back. He's a wonderful horse, we were very disappointed he didn't make it to Cheltenham last year and the plan this year will be to get two or three races into him before going for the Champion Hurdle again.”
Macs Joy is set to face stiff opposition in a field that could include previous winners Harchibald and Iktitaf, both trained by Noel Meade.
Nicky Henderson has admitted that there are some "dangerous" times ahead for Trabolgan as he plots a return for the 2005 Hennessy Gold Cup winner who has been off the track with tendon trouble for nearly two years.
"He's back and he looks tremendous," said Henderson. "Mick Meagher, who looks after them at (owner) Trevor Hemmings' stud, has done a great job and kept him ticking over in controlled exercise.
"Rain is the crucial thing - we are not getting drawn into making targets.
"An awful lot of the injuries are caused by them not being fit, particularly at this time of year - these are dangerous times," he told At The Races.
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Hope Voy Por goes to Cheltenham on Sunday, then i will see him
