Turf Talk: Aloomomo a doubt for Caspian Caviar Gold Cup warns Greatrex

Warren Greatrex has warned that Aloomomo is far from certain to take his place in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Aloomomo, ridden by Gavin Sheehan in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase during Champion Day of the 2016 Cheltenham Festival.Aloomomo, ridden by Gavin Sheehan in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase during Champion Day of the 2016 Cheltenham Festival.
Aloomomo, ridden by Gavin Sheehan in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase during Champion Day of the 2016 Cheltenham Festival.

The Lambourn handler may bypass the Grade Three prize with the six-year-old, who is ante-post favourite with a number of betting firms, on account of the ground being too quick.

Should Aloomomo miss his intended outing at the weekend he could be re-routed to the Lavazza Jolie Silver Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot a week on Saturday.

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Greatrex said: “The big problem is the ground. There is every chance we might be forced not to run as he wants the ground softer than it is at the moment.

“It is just my luck to have a favourite for a big race and for the ground to be like this. I would love to have a go as he is in serious order.

“It was a great effort on his comeback run at Ascot. He needed it probably more than I thought as it did look like he would win but he got tired from the last to the line.

“When the ground wasn’t soft enough at the Cheltenham Festival he didn’t handle it and he is entered the week after at Ascot in the Silver Cup.

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“I will speak to the owners and they will have the last call but I am of the opinion we wait for the week after and wait for the rain. Wherever he goes he will be competitive.”

l Newbury has announced last month’s Hennessy Gold Cup was the last running of the race under the sponsorship of the drinks firm, bringing an end to one of the longest associations in the sport.

The Grade Three handicap, which was won this year by the Colin Tizzard-trained Native River, was backed by Hennessy for 60 years, but the company has decided not to continue the sponsorship.

Dominic Burke, chairman of Newbury, said: “The Hennessy Gold Cup has been a race that has captured the imagination.”

TURF TALK TIPS

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BANGOR: 12.20 Buveur D’Air, 12.40 Winged Express, 1.15 Ballyboker Breeze, 1.50 Lower Hope Dandy, 2.25 Jameson, 3.00 Robben, 3.35 Testify.

CHELTENHAM: 12.20 One Track Mind, 12.55 Dawnieriver, 1.30 Southfield Theatre (next best), 2.05 Ballyboker Bridge, 2.40 L’Aigle Royal, 3.15 Bobble Emerald, 3.45 Sumkindofking.

DONCASTER: 12.00 Tiquer, 12.30 Give Me A Copper, 1.05 Might Bite, 1.40 Minstrels Gallery (treble), 2.15 Dancing Shadow, 2.50 Aliandy, 3.25 Tullow Tonic.

NEWCASTLE: 3.10 Island Flame, 3.40 Lil’s Affair, 4.15 Khelly’s Edge, 4.50 Blue Cliffs, 5.20 TADAAWOL (NAP), 5.50 Edith Weston, 6.20 Chandresh, 6.50 Eternalist.

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