WHEN trainer Tony Martin enters an animal in a race, punters are advised to take special notice, while bookmakers tend to panic and slash the odds marked up about the Irishman's participants.
Martin was in fine voice yesterday, but some of the words escaping from his lips were a little surprising. He confirmed that Patsy Hall, who beat Aces Four at Cheltenham in December and who has only recently joined him, will take his chance in tomorrow's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.
However, the trainer, well known for plotting big handicap wins, admitted Patsy Hall may lack the required experience for a race as competitive as the Hennessy. "Hopefully he will put up a good show, we have been very happy with him," said Martin. "He ran a fortnight ago over two miles at Punchestown. We had been trying to get a run into him before that but the ground wouldn't allow it.
"He finished well back but it was only two miles so, hopefully, he'll benefit a lot from that and the trip will be a big help to him. He lacks experience for a race like the Hennessy and that is why we were deliberating whether we would go or not.
"It's a fair big ask but the way we'll ride him will give him every chance to run well. We'll drop him out and take our time, and with everything going right for him coming up to the cross-fence, then you'd be hoping.
"I definitely think there is a big race in him but this might be coming a bit early so it may be that a race at Cheltenham or something this time next year might suit better."
As regards a rider, Martin happily confirmed that Jason Maguire would be employed. "I've been a fan of Jason for a long time and he's ridden a lot of winners for me over hurdles and I think he'll suit the horse."
Looking further ahead, Martin said he was keen on another crack at the Grand National with Dun Doire. The eight-year-old soft-ground performer was a strong fancy for Aintree last season but the ground dried up. He was pulled up four fences from home, and Martin believes an earlier fall over the National fences in the Becher Chase was still causing the gelding discomfort. "He's going the best of the whole lot of them at the moment," said Martin.
"The plan is to maybe get a run into him about Christmas time. We are just struggling to get a jockey to commit to him at the moment but he's bursting at the seams. Last year was a bit of a mess because he fell in the Becher Chase and was never himself afterwards. Now he is back to what he was the year before, whereas last year I don't think he was right after the fall - he was very sore.
"I couldn't be happier with him now. We left him out in the field for a long time during the summer and are hoping come Christmas we can get him out, if we can find a race. He needs soft ground as he wouldn't be quick enough on good ground for top races, but he is a better horse than what he showed in the National last year."
Elsewhere, Inglis Drever will bid to succeed where the great Baracouda failed and win a third Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury tomorrow. Howard Johnson's thoroughbred denied the great French champion a third successive victory in the event in 2005 before following up again last term.
"He's fine. He went for a racecourse gallop at Haydock and needed that, he was blowing quite hard at the end but has been ready for a while," said owner Graham Wylie. "We've been waiting for softer ground and now it has come, so we'll take him down to Newbury and see how he gets on. It's difficult to say if he is as far forward as he has been for this race for the past two years, we'll find out on Saturday."
As regards today, Charlie Mann is looking forward to Air Force One making his debut over fences in the novices' chase at Newbury. The trainer has booked Davy Russell for the five-year-old, who was a smart staying novice last term, finishing runner-up to Wichita Lineman at the Cheltenham Festival. "He's in very good form, jumps well and I'm very pleased with him," said Mann.
"He's a good horse, this is the right race for him and I'm chuffed to bits with him." Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, 3m 2f, Newbury, tomorrow (Ladbrokes odds) 7-2 Denman, 6 Abragante, New Alco, Snowy Morning, 10 Patsy Hall, 12 Dom D'Orgeval, Character Building, 14 Knowhere, Alderburn, 16 Hard Act To Follow, Juveigneur, Sir Rembrandt, 20 others
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