NEWS ROUND-UP:EDWARD O'GRADY is hopeful rather than confident Catch Me can emulate Tranquil Sea by winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Last November the Tipperary trainer sent out Tranquil Sea to become the first Irish-trained winner of the handicap chase for 29 years.
Catch Me warmed up for his big engagement with a third behind Captain Cee Bee in the Poplar Square Chase at Naas last month, which Tranquil Sea won before being triumphant at Cheltenham.
“Catch Me came out of the Naas race well and we’re happy with him, but I thought that the race was uncompetitive and inconclusive,” said O’Grady.
“It was uncompetitive in that there were only four runners and it just wasn’t anything as good as last year. Of course the winner is a very decent horse, it was just the way that the race was run. He (Catch Me) has been a great servant who has suffered a few misfortunes, but I feel that he has retained his ability and I am hoping to see it on Saturday or sometime soon.
“At this stage of his career, he is probably a similar type to Tranquil Sea, but it was difficult to be confident after the trial.
“I think that we have to be no more than hopeful rather than confident going into the Paddy Power, I suppose simply because the trial was inconclusive.”
Master Minded may take on Forpadydeplasterer and company in the Sinbad Testimonial Chase at the same venue on Sunday.
Connections of the dual Queen Mother Champion Chase hero have yet to decide whether to give the seven-year-old his seasonal debut this weekend or wait for the Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot the following Saturday.
Master Minded suffered a shock defeat when only third to Well Chief in the corresponding race at Cheltenham 12 months ago, after which a physical problem was detected.
The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding returned after treatment to land the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury in February, only to finish fourth behind Big Zeb and Forpadydeplasterer in his bid to capture the Queen Mother for a third successive year.
“Master Minded worked well today, so I think we’ll see how the weather is,” said owner Clive Smith. “We don’t mind the rain and it just depends how it all is if we are going to run. We’ll see.
“Ascot was the main aim, but Paul came up with this because ground conditions might be very favourable to him for Sunday if we do get there.”
Meanwhile, Robbie Hennessy is excited about the National Hunt season ahead after splashing out on new recruits from high-profile Flat yards, including Workforce’s former lead horse Ithinkbest.
While his 2007 Champion Hurdle hero Sublimity may not be the force of old, the Co Meath handler, who trains for his father, Bill, still has plenty to look forward to.
Hennessy paid £200,000 at Tattersalls for Aidan O’Brien’s dual Flat winner Table Mountain, while former Michael Stoute inmate Ithinkbest, who used to lead Derby and Arc hero Workforce up the Newmarket gallops, will be aimed at a hurdling campaign.
“I’ve bought Ithinkbest out of Michael Stoute’s yard. He was the lead horse to Workforce and is a cracking horse,” said Hennessy. “He was already gelded and has done some schooling, which has gone well. He should be ready to run in three or four weeks.”
