Champion Court and Havingotascoobydo change routes from the Gold Cup to the Ascot meeting
Trainer, Martin Keighley, has switched options for his trainee, Champion Court. The seven-year-old bay gelding was previously scheduled for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham Open meeting on 17th November. It is one of the most important handicaps
of the season. Along with him, the stable mate, Havingotascoobydo, has also been withdrawn from the line-up.
The Condicote based trainer is now seeking out options at the Ascot meeting that is to be held within a week’s time. For Champion Court, he has already decided the Grade 2 Amlin Chase, and is still to select a handicap on the same card for his other entry
out of, In Blue.
Both have raced thrice during the new season, with Court Cave’s bay gelding’s profile far better than that of his stable mate.
The Irish bay gelding, Champion Court, has won once out of the three seasonal outings and has scored second in two.
His highly convincing opening of the season was through the success in the Grade 2 Cheltenham Pony Club Raceday Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham over two miles and five furlongs.
He had joined teams with jockey, Alain Cawley, and the two defeated Solix by 1 ¾ lengths.
The same jockey accompanied the M. Boothright owned in the following two starts of the season.
On 15th March, the seven-year-old qualified as the runner-up of the Grade 2 Jewson Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham over two miles and four furlongs.
The same fate awaited the bay gelding out of, Mooneys Hill, in the Grade 2 John Smith’s Mildmay Novices’ Chase on 13th April at Aintree over three miles and a furlong.
He missed the winning spot by thirteen lengths.
The Gloucestershire handler wants his under charge to pull back the same form in which he cracked the 2012 season.
The trainer said:
"His form is rock solid and I think he's improved over the summer. I want him spot on for his first run and his form says he should be running in Grade 2s not handicaps, he's very exciting."
"It's disappointing but Champion Court had a little setback a while ago. He's coming good now but I feel the Paddy Power may just come a week too soon."
About his other trainee, Havingotascoobydo, he stated:
"The handicapper has dropped him a little and there are two races at Ascot that would be ideal. I just think for the horse, confidence wise, it's what would be best - to go to Ascot rather than the Paddy Power."
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