Market Unease On Cue Card
March 9th, 2017 | Marten's Current Racing Diary
Hi there,
A total of 15 horses have been left in next Wednesday’s Queen Mother Champion Chase, with no surprises.
They include Douvan, with a number of doubtful starters still there as a precaution. They include Altior, Un De Sceaux, Uxizandre and Vroum Vroum Mag, who each have alternative targets.
Looking ahead to the weekend there were just 13 horses declared for the Imperial Cup at Sandown on Saturday. They include my old favourite Kayf Blanco, who will be equipped with a tongue-tie and hood for the first time. As regular clients will be aware I have stayed loyal to this horse for three years now in the belief that he has the ability to win a race of this calibre. The headgear and tongue-tie may make a difference.
The winner of this race has a chance to try for the £50,000 bonus for any horse that wins the Imperial Cup and a race next week at Cheltenham.
Looking to the Gold Cup there was a little market uneasiness this morning with Cue Card. I gather he drifted for a short while to around 11 but he has since strengthened up to 5.7. Native River is proving solid at 4.8 with Djakadam also steady at 5.
I have had an upbeat report from a very well-placed source for Minella Rocco, provided the ground is no worse than good to soft. Arthur Moore will be hoping for similar conditions for Dandridge in the Grand Annual Handicap Chase.
Bye for now
Marten
