GOLD CUP NEWS: A leg injury has ruled top French chaser First Gold out of the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 14th.
Coral had been offering 9 to 1 about First Gold after his disappointing performance in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton and spokesman Simon Clare believes his absence will not produce too much of a hole in the market.
He said: "Fortunately for punters First Gold has always been fairly short in the Gold Cup betting so there won't be too many torn up ante-post betting slips." First Gold will now miss the rest of the season after a progressive leg problem got worse.
Trainer Francois Doumen said: "I've got to hold his programme as he has a problem with his leg and I must get it sorted out." The nine-year-old gelding was bought by JP McManus in a double deal with Baracouda after winning last season's King George VI Chase.
He was a hot favourite for the 2001 Cheltenham Gold Cup before the intervention of foot-and-mouth but went on to make amends by scoring an impressive victory in the Martell Cup at Aintree.
Doumen has been targeting this year's renewal of the Cheltenham spectacular for his stable star despite his poor run at Kempton at Christmas.
He finished a long way behind winner Florida Pearl but was due to renew rivalry with Willie Mullins's horse in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown a week on Sunday.
Looks Like Trouble, winner of the race in 2000, is now clear ante-post favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Noel Chance's horse is the general 5 to 1 favourite for the Festival showpiece.
GOLD CUP BETTING: 5-1 Looks Like Trouble, 6-1 Best Mate, 10-1 Bacchanal, Behrajan (from 12), Florida Pearl, Sackville, Shooting Light, 12-1 Lord Noelie, Marlborough, 14-1 Rince Ri (from 33), 20-1 Alexander Banquet, Foxchapel King, What's Up Boys, 25-1 Cyfor Malta, Legal Right, Shotgun Willy, 40-1 bar.
• John Egan was yesterday suspended for two months by the Hong Kong Jockey Club after being found guilty of misleading the stewards.
The suspension, which starts on Thursday and lasts until April 1st, concerned evidence given by Egan after the disappointing running of Jade Ruyi, who started favourite but finished last at Happy Valley on January 9th.
