Gold Cup looking main target now for Weird Al

The eight-year-old gelding, trained by Donald McCain, followed up his Wetherby success by finishing third to Kauto Star and Long Run – the two King George principles – at Haydock.

However, McCain and jockey Timmy Murphy believe better ground will suit the horse, with a tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup the most likely option at this stage.

McCain said: “He’s fine – there are no issues – we only left him in for another stage (of the King George) as a precaution. We’d planned all along to wait and sit tight with him until the Spring.”

Captain Chris, by contrast, is firmly on course to represent Philip Hobbs in the King George.

Last season’s Arkle winner unseated Richard Johnson upon his return in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, but was in the process of running a big race.

Johnson schooled the horse yesterday and reported afterwards: “He felt very well. Philip has been very happy with him the last week or so. The aim is the King George – but things have to go right between now and then. It’s a very, very strong race, but we think he’s very good and up to that.”

Meanwhile, Charlie Hall second Time For Rupert outclassed his rivals in Newbury’s Betfair Graduation Chase to put his Cheltenham Gold campaign back on track.

The 8-15 chance jumped accurately and sometimes economically for Denis O’Regan, who was riding the seven-year-old for the first time. O’Regan replaced Will Kennedy, who had ridden Time For Rupert in each of his previous 16 starts.

He came home a length-and-three-quarters clear of The Giant Bolster.

O’Regan said: “It was very straightforward for me today. I didn’t think he’d pick up that well in the ground. I was very happy.

“It was a big drop in class – I’m glad he came through with flying colours. I just wanted to go round free enough and enjoy the experience.”

The chaser will reappear in Cheltenham’s Argento Chase at the end of January. Paddy Power make Time For Rupert a 33-1 chance for the Grand National and are unchanged at 20-1 for the Gold Cup.

Tangerine Trees is the 2011 Yorkshire horse of the year.

Bryan Smart’s six-year-old sprinter picked up the accolade at yesterday’s Go Racing in Yorkshire lunch where a lifetime achievement award was presented to veteran Sheriff Hutton trainer Mick Easterby, who has guided Hoof it with such aplomb this season.

The winner of the Beverley Bullet Stakes, Tangerine Trees and jockey Tom Eaves then clung on to a hard-fought victory in the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp, one of Europe’s top sprints.

The horse was the selection of Yorkshire Post competition winner Rachel Roberts, of Bradford. She will have a race named in her honour in 2012.