Wetherby going looking set to suit Cape Tribulation

Malcolm Jefferson’s stable star ran in the John Smith’s Hurdle on the same card 12 months ago but was well beaten behind Tidal Bay before returning to Wetherby to win the Rowland Meyrick on Boxing Day.

The Malton trainer then sent Cape Tribulation to Cheltenham for the Argento Chase where he broke the heart of Imperial Commander before his respectable performance in the Gold Cup.

“He looks well and is in very good order. The ground should be bang on for everyone after this rain,” said Jefferson.

“After Wetherby, he’ll get an entry in the Hennessy. He might be near top weight and while I’m not a fan of running horses in handicaps with top weight, there might be something rated 167 or 168 that could run. Hopefully, we’ll have another good year with him and he’ll pick up a race somewhere along the line.”

Oscar Rock will make his debut for the handler at Wetherby on November 1.

The Malton trainer has picked out the Wetherby Racecourse And Conference Centre “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle over two-and-a-half miles for his new recruit from Harry Fry.

The five-year-old looked very promising in bumpers last season, winning a Listed event at Newbury which worked out particularly well with the second and fifth fighting out the finish of the bumper at Aintree on Grand National day.

“Last season, he was the second top-rated bumper horse in Britain and Ireland, so he’s obviously got lots of potential,” said Jefferson. “He has to go and do it on the track now – I don’t want to do his talking for him.”

Jefferson confirmed that Attaglance is being aimed at the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on November 16.

The seven-year-old won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival before adding an Aintree Listed success to his tally.

Attaglance, who has a great rapport with jockey Harry Haynes, struggled last season novice-chasing, but was an eye-catching second to the Sam Twiston-Davies-ridden Double Ross at Perth on his reappearance.

Jefferson is hoping he can take advantage of his 17lb lower handicap mark over the bigger obstacles. “He’s a second-season chaser and horses like him have a good record,” he said.

At Fishers Cross is all set to make his eagerly-anticipated seasonal debut in the bet365 Hurdle at Wetherby on Charlie Hall day.

The JP McManus-owned six-year-old enjoyed a fantastic campaign last time around, winning each of his six starts and claiming the major staying novice hurdle prizes at both the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals in the Spring under the record-breaking AP McCoy.

He currently disputes favouritism for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March with four-times winner Big Buck’s, who missed much of last season through injury.

Trainer Rebecca Curtis said: “He’s going really well and I think he’s going to go to Wetherby on Saturday week. There are not too many options for him really. There is the race at the Hennessy meeting at Newbury (Long Distance Hurdle) and then the Long Walk at Ascot in December.”

Ferdy Murphy’s successful switch from West Wynbury to France continues at pace with Lord Villez lining up in today’s Prix Moncourt at Auteuil. James Reveley takes the ride.

Murphy said: “It will take a couple of months to get the run of things, but I’m happy with where we are at the moment. We’ve got 20 in training and that’s the way it will stay for now.

“We have a three-year-old half-brother to Golden Silver and a four-year-old half-brother to Reve De Sivola, but it will be a while before they’ll be running.”

Champion trainer-elect Richard Hannon has elected to saddle QEII winner Olympic Glory – conqueror of Brian Ellison’s Top Notch Tonto last Saturday – rather than Toronado in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita next week.