Cheltenham Festival hero off to Newbury, Ahoy Senor Aintree-bound, says Lucinda Russell
Lucinda Russell has told William Hill that her runaway Cheltenham Festival hero Myretown will be aimed at the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, while Ahoy Senor will run at the Aintree Bowl.
The William Hill ambassador believes that Myretown’s spectacular victory in the Ultima will almost certainly be the final run of his season, with big aims set for next term.
Myretown set for Coral Gold Cup after stunning Ultima win
“Myretown was brilliant in the Ultima, and we were beyond thrilled with his performance,” she told William Hill.
“We came into the race thinking he was the riskier proposition of our two runners, but he put all his talent together on the day in a big way and it was great that he did it at Cheltenham on a marquee day.
“As regards future plans, I’d say that will probably be his final run this season. We’ll likely keep him in training for a week or two more, just to let him down properly, but I don’t think we’d gain much by running him again this term.
“In my mind, his big target would be the Coral Gold Cup at the end of November. Now, it’s all about next season for him.”
Whistle Stop Tour aimed at Scottish National
Things didn’t go to plan with the yard’s other Ultima runner, Whistle Stop Tour, who will now be aimed at the Scottish National.
“Whistle Stop Tour got incredibly unlucky with the faller hampering him so badly at the first, and then after a bad mistake at the next, he was just never involved,” added Russell.
“These things can happen in big-field handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival, but actually, he’s not had a hard race and Derek (Fox) did the right thing in pulling him up when he did.
“He probably will run again this season, and we’d look at something like the Scottish National for him as that ought to be a race that suits.”
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Derryhassen Paddy to go over fences next season
Russell came closest to a second winner of the week with Derryhassen Paddy, who ran a fine third in the Albert Bartlett.
Once again, it’s all about next season with him and Russell said: “It was fantastic to see Derryhassen Paddy finish third in the Albert Bartlett.
“It was funny watching the race on the day, because he just looks like such a bigger horse compared to the other runners, and he really is a big chaser in the making.
“He’s had some great experiences this year over hurdles, and we hope that’ll stand to him when we go over fences next term.
“I think the way he jumps hurdles suggests that he’ll be happier over the larger obstacles.
“He won’t run again this season, and we’ll let him have a summer off. He’s another one we can dream about next year.”
Ahoy Senor targets Aintree Bowl after unexpected Gold Cup fall
Things didn’t go to plan with Ahoy Senor in the Gold Cup, however, but it’s all systems go to Aintree next.
“We were obviously very disappointed to see Ahoy Senor fall in the Gold Cup. It was an unfortunate error, particularly as he’d generally looked much more relaxed, settled and professional up to that point,” said Russell.
“It was almost as if he lost concentration at the fence. I’ve seen him make much worse mistakes and jump worse across the board, but we move on.
“He’s come home fine and the Aintree Bowl will be next for him.”
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