Al Ferof‘s entry in the Queen Mother Champion Chase is purely precautionary, according to trainer Paul Nicholls.
The seven-year-old has won both his starts over fences this term, landing a Grade Two event at Cheltenham before graduating to the highest level with victory in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.
Nicholls has already revealed Al Ferof will step up to full company for his next start, but the Ditcheat trainer believes people have overreacted to news of his Champion Chase option.
“We mentioned in my column here a few weeks ago that the horse was being targeted at the Victor Chandler at Ascot on January 21, but I left it at that. Mainly because there was nothing more to say, other than the fact that the horse may as well go for a 100k race in gaining more experience before Cheltenham, rather than running for next to nothing in a novice chase somewhere,” he told Betfair.
“Obviously, the horse was always going to get an entry in the Champion Chase because a trainer wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t cover all eventualities with his best horses. Just as Donald (McCain) is doing his job by entering Peddlers Cross in the race, and Nicky (Henderson) is by entering Finian’s Rainbow in the Gold Cup.”
Nicholls has three other entries in Ghizao, Kauto Stone and Hold Fast, but the first two are unlikely to run while the latter faces a crucial test at Newbury next month.
The trainer added: “I can reveal that Ghizao has had his soft palate cauterised, as he choked last time out at Cheltenham on New Years Day. He will go straight to the Festival, but I suspect he may run in a handicap there rather than the Champion Chase.
“Kauto Stone is being aimed at the Ryanair at this stage, and he goes for the Betfair Ascot Chase next month. Hold Fast surprised me when bolting up off a mark of 137 at Sandown on Saturday and we will take him to the Betfair Game Spirit at Newbury next month to see what we now have on our hands.
“We went down that route with Master Minded after he won the same Sandown race (off a mark of 145), and we know what happened from there. It is asking rather a lot for lightning to strike twice, I suppose. But if you are not in it, you certainly can’t win it.”
Tags: Al Ferof, Champion Chase, Gold Cup, Grade Two, Hold Fast, horse, ID, Master Minded, NH, OK, PA, Paul Nicholls, Peddlers Cross, Queen Mother
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