Sackville is still a Gold Cup hope

Lydia Hislop13 April 2012

Sackville is still "more than likely" to contest next month's Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup - despite being removed from ante-post betting by bookmakers.

The Frances Crowley-trained chaser headed the market for racing's blue riband event as recently as last month. But the nine-year-old has now disappointed on his last three runs, most recently when tailed off behind Alexander Banquet in yesterday's Irish Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Tests are under way at Eight Hills Stables in Piltown in an attempt to uncover any physical problem. But, if given the all-clear, Crowley is inclined to stick with her original plan.

"We're checking everything but he seems fine," she said. "Of course we are disappointed with how he ran yesterday and I can't explain it. The ground was terrible - that's the only thing we have to blame. We know he doesn't like it heavy.

"But maybe he's not as good as we thought - he was beaten by top-class horses. Yet I wouldn't say he's out of the Gold Cup picture. Yesterday's run hardly enhances our confidence, but if he's healthy it's more than likely we'll go ahead and run.

"The better ground and longer trip will suit him. We're asking ourselves: should we abandon what we know he likes on the basis of runs over trips and ground that don't suit him? If he's right, we have to run him somewhere. I think we'll just keep going."

Fellow Irish handler Willie Mullins reported his Hennessy winner, Alexander Banquet, and fourth, Florida Pearl, sound after their exertions.

"I'd say Alexander Banquet now has a tremendous Gold Cup chance," he said. "I'm not worried about Florida Pearl in the overall context of the horse. He didn't enjoy hold-up tactics yesterday. We'll be more aggressive at Cheltenham."

Meanwhile, Ascot's clerk of the course, Nick Cheyne, is "confident" that Saturday's meeting will go ahead, despite wet weather lashing the country today.