Carbury Cross proved to be something of a disappointment for Jonjo O'Neill last week but he can make up for that by winning the attheraces Gold Cup at Sandown this afternoon.
The eight-year-old crashed out of last Saturday's Scottish Grand National at the 20th fence when travelling strongly. This progressive horse would not necessarily have stayed the marathon trip at Ayr but this three mile, five furlong trip should suit perfectly.
Carbury Cross has had a successful couple of months of late and the application of blinkers by O'Neill seems to have been the key to this possibly high-class horse.
He went off a short-priced favourite at Ayr after a stunning performance in the Martell Chase at Aintree where he stormed away from a fair field to win by some 18 lengths from Enrique.
Carbury Cross has already met with a few of his rivals here earlier in the season at the Cheltenham Festival. He finished three lengths behind Frenchman's Creek in the National Hunt Chase with last year's Whitbread Gold Cup victor, Ad Hoc, a further 16 lengths back in third. You're Agoodun and Royal Predica filled fourth and fifth places respectively.
Fadalko should be taken to carry on his winning run in the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Celebration Chase. The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding has undergone something of a spring renaissance in recent weeks and he tackles this two mile event at the top of his form.
Although he faces the champion two-mile chaser, Flagship Uberalles, and Henrietta Knight's Edredon Bleu, the drier ground can see him get the better of his old adversaries.
Fadalko will be making a quick reappearance after taking a valuable event at Cheltenham nine days ago. He accounted for Wahiba Sands and Earthmover in good style over two miles and five furlongs at the Gloucestershire track on good to firm going that day. The nine-year-old went into that run on the back of a third place in the Grade One Martell Melling Chase at Aintree at the beginning of the month.
The three races have come in quick succession but Fadalko seems to be thriving in the spring sunshine and Nicholls seems keen to make good use of his purple patch.
Swallow Flight can make amends for his disappointing seasonal debut by taking the Group Two attheraces Mile. The six-year-old was last behind Dandoun in a Listed event at Doncaster on his reappearance but he met with any amount of trouble in running.
Darryll Holland found himself trapped on the inner and went for an ambitious run up the inside of King's Ironbridge only to have the door shut in his face.
