Sport

First Gold on track for a third success

Racing: First Gold can take his third Martell Cognac Cup on the first day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree today.

Thu Apr 01 2004 - 01:00

Racing: First Gold can take his third Martell Cognac Cup on the first day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree today.

The 11-year-old was successful here last year and in 2001, and he certainly does seem to love this track.

His 14-length success last April was hugely impressive and the application of blinkers and front-running tactics appeared to bring out the best in him.

First Gold is a horse that progresses with every run and he was by no means disgraced when third in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.

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Francois Doumen then kept him under wraps until the Cheltenham Gold Cup just two weeks ago, when he made all the running before just fading out of it to finish fifth.

Doumen reports that the gelding has recovered well from that and another big run is expected today.

Garde Champetre also finished fifth in his race at Cheltenham, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Paul Nicholls' five-year-old can go four places better here in the Martell Cognac Novices' Hurdle.

The two-mile trip was an inadequate distance for the Garde Royale gelding and he was badly outpaced early in the race. He moves up to two and a half miles for the first time here but the extra distance should not be a problem.

Iris's Gift will try to follow up his Stayers' Hurdle win in the opening Martell Cognac Liverpool Hurdle and it has hard to see him being defeated.

Jonjo O'Neill's seven-year-old outbattled Baracouda at Cheltenham to get up and beat the defending champion by one-and-a-half lengths.

This striking grey has been a really consistent performer and he is obviously improving with age. Although he will be a short price, it may pay to side with him again.

Gin Palace is a horse going the right way and can be on the mark in the Martell Cognac Handicap Hurdle. He looked a progressive type when winning at Kempton in February.

He ran in the Imperial Cup last time and finished fifth, but the soft ground that day probably wouldn't have helped his chances. The extra four furlongs today can help Gin Palace return to winning ways.

St Pirran can follow up his Cheltenham win in the Martell Cognac Red Rum Chase, while Tom Greenall can enjoy a nice success on Sikander A Azam in the Martell Cognac Fox Hunters' Chase.