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Jefferson hoping Pete can shine in Paddy Power rain
MALCOLM Jefferson was typically modest when he named his two wishes for the National Hunt season.
He wanted his progessive chaser, According To Pete, to make a full recovery from serious injury.
And he also pleaded for the rain clouds to fall on Cheltenham ahead of the prestigious Paddy Power Gold Cup – one of the valuable handicaps that underpin the jumping calendar.
Jefferson, it appears, has been fortunate on both counts – and his eight-year-old is likely to relish the heavy conditions in the 150,000 feature.
"Two and a half miles might just be on the short side unless the ground is really in his favour," said the Malton handler.
"I put him in because you never know, it might just rain and not stop, and if that happened he would be in there on a fair weight."
Victory would also be the biggest day in Northallerton-born jockey Phil Kinsella's burgeoning career – and constitute a great training performance on Jefferson's part.
The winner of his first four starts over fences last term, According To Pete disappointed many of his fans when trailing home fourth in Doncaster's Sky Bet Chase in January – a race won by Big Fella Thanks.
The reason soon became clear. Said Jefferson: "He went lame behind at Doncaster and we were very worried. The vets thought it was something serious but it turned out to be nothing really.
"He was all right on the Saturday night but by Sunday morning he could hardly put his back leg down. We had him X-rayed at home and were concerned that we had seen something so he went to Newmarket and it turned out that he had pulled a little ligament.
"I went on holiday to Dubai for seven days and by the time I got back he was dancing around his box at home. I didn't do any more with him after that as a precaution. If anything had gone wrong I would have looked a fool, so we gave him time off.
"He has had two runs on the Flat recently and he ran well enough. He seems in good enough order, although I would be happier if my horses were running with more consistency at present."
According To Pete heads an impressive Yorkshire cast list in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
Malton trainer John Quinn runs Leslingtaylor, a durable performer who is well-weighted, while jockey Andrew Tinkler – who hails from the same North Yorkshire town – has secured the ride on Henry Daly's Pop. Tinkler is riding with great confidence at present.
And Ferdy Murphy, who won the 2007 renewal with L'Antartique, runs Three Mirrors after withdrawing Watch My Back because of the going.
Yet, from a Yorkshire perspective, it would be ironic if My Petra won for Tony McCoy. This is the horse that, controversially, took the wrong course at Wetherby on Charlie Hall Chase day, an error that saw his jockey Barry Geragthy pick up a 12-day ban which begins today.
Geraghty signed off by winning the feature race yesterday on French Opera, but many eyes will be on McCoy today. The 14-times champion jockey is the most successful jockey in the history of the Paddy Power Gold Cup with four victories to his name – Cyfor Malta, Lady Cricket, Shooting Light and Exotic Dancer.
Yet this record is eclipsed by leading owner David Johnson who has won the race six times and saddles two – top weight Our Vic and the heavily-backed Jewson winner Chapoturgeon who bids to break champion trainer Paul Nicholls's duck in the race.
"He appears to have improved at home but you only find out on a racecourse," said Johnson.
Meanwhile Johnson's Well Chief can capitalise upon a handy pull in the weights to dent Master Minded's reputation in the inaugural running of the Connaught Chase at Cheltenham tomorrow.
The high-class pair squared up in the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March when Well Chief, on his first start for almost two years, finished seven lengths adrift of the reigning champion.
Master Minded is unlikely to be fully primed – his main early season target is the Tingle Creek Chase in three weeks time.
The David Pipe team, on the other hand, have Well Chief tuned to the minute and, despite his rising years, the 10-year-old may have too many guns for his supremely-talented rival.
Garde Champetrre, ridden by Nina Carberry and owned by JP McManus, raised the roof at Cheltenham yesterday by winning a record fourth race over the cross-country course, a race that typifies the spirit of Countryside Day at the home of National Hunt racing.
TODAY'S BEST
DUKE'S DOUBLE
Currahee (2.55 Wetherby), nap and Alazan (3.45 Cheltenham).
DUKE'S TREBLE
Currahee, Alazan and Tartak (2.35 Cheltenham).
JULIUS'S DOUBLE
Sullumo (1.05 Uttoxeter), nap and Capricorn Run (3.05 Lingfield).
FORMNAP
Pop (2.35 Cheltenham).
TOmorrow'S BEST
DUKE'S DOUBLE
John Forbes (1.35 Market Rasen), nap and Lidar (4.00 Cheltenham).
DUKE'S TREBLE
John Forbes, Lidar and Sycho Fred (3.20 Market Rasen).
JULIUS'S DOUBLE
Helium (12.50 Fontwell), nap and Zimbabwe (3.20 Market Rasen).
FORMNAP
Well Chief (1.45 Cheltenham).
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
