'It was the right race at the wrong time' - Gold Cup option for Ga Law after missing Premier Chase

Ga Law's connections are mulling over a tilt at the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup after Kelso's bet365 Premier Chase (3.35) on Saturday came too soon for the Paddy Power Gold Cup winner.

The Jamie Snowden-trained seven-year-old is entered in the Gold Cup and the Ryanair Chase but needs a top-four finish in a chase over further than 2m7½f to qualify for the Randox Grand National next month.

Ga Law is a general 100-1 shot for the Gold Cup and is a best-price 18-1 with bet365 for the 2m4½f event.

Snowden said: "He's absolutely fine. The cuts he received from Doncaster put us on the back foot which meant Kelso was just going to come a week or ten days too soon, hence why we've decided that he wasn't ready to go. It was the right race at the wrong time and we've got to do right by the horse.

"It's a shame as that looked the right opportunity to go and try to qualify for the Grand National really. Unfortunately there's nothing he can run in to qualify now so the only option, if we wanted to go for the National, is the Gold Cup.

Ga Law: only finishing in the first four in the Gold Cup would qualify him for the Grand NationalCredit: David Davies - Pool (Getty Images)

"The Gold Cup is the Gold Cup, a seriously competitive race. We've got the option of either chasing Shishkin home and trying to pick up some prize-money or going for Gold and seeing where we get to.

"It's just a frustration that the rules have meant that he's ended up not being qualified. The handicapper thinks he showed improved form by going up in trip last time, yet the rules state you've got to finish in the first four.

"The rules are the rules and it means he doesn't qualify, which I'm not sure the powers that be would necessarily want but I'm sure they'll look at the rules for the future."

One horse definitely heading to the Gold Cup is Sounds Russian, who was ante-post favourite for the Premier Chase but not among the five declarations on Thursday.

Sounds Russian: heading for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold CupCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Ruth Jefferson's stable star has run well in defeat since being upped to Graded level, with his close second behind Ahoy Senor in the Cotswold Chase giving the owners belief he could feature in the Gold Cup, for which he is a general 20-1 chance.

Jefferson said: “The owners wanted to go to Cheltenham, they’d never had a runner there before the Cotswold Chase. Sounds Russian is very consistent, he’s not ground dependent, he stays the trip and you can ride him any want you want so he should run his race there.”

Grand National hope Le Milos is running in the feature race at the Scottish track and will likely head the market, having been in terrific form since joining Dan Skelton, following up victory at Bangor with a tough display to justify favouritism in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.

The Shunter returns to Kelso for the first time since landing the Morebattle Hurdle on this card in 2021, before going on to win a race at the Cheltenham Festival and collecting the £100,000 bonus on offer.

Emmet Mullins' ten-year-old hasn't been seen over fences since finishing midfield behind Gold Cup hope Hewick in the Galway Plate.

Wishing And Hoping, who caused a shock in the Veterans' Final at Sandown when winning at 50-1, has been declared, while Empire Steel and Zanza complete the field.

Zanza's likely preferred option, however, is the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury, where his record is 5-6 and includes victory in last month's Grade 2 Denman Chase.

Emmet Mullins: has three runners at Kelso on SaturdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

A maximum field of 16 will go to post for the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle (1.50) with ante-post market leader Mctigue attempting to give Mullins a second victory in the 2m handicap event.

Mctigue, who has multiple entries at the Cheltenham Festival, was an impressive winner of a Sedgefield maiden hurdle before showing his class with victory in an Auteuil Grade 2, before finishing down the field on his last two starts, including behind Triumph Hurdle favourite Lossiemouth in the Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle last time.

Mullins' juvenile features in a strong Irish contingent, along with topweight Colonel Mustard, who finished just three lengths behind State Man in the County Hurdle at last year's festival, and Wajaaha, who ran well in a Navan handicap hurdle last week.

Last year's winner Cormier featured among the British-trained opposition, along with Betfair Hurdle third Teddy Blue and the form-seeking Tritonic, whose last win over hurdles came in December 2021.

Deere Mark is another runner who could be in line for a shot of the £100,000 bonus, with Sam Thomas's runner, who has won his last two starts, entered in the County Hurdle in two weeks' time for which he is around 25-1.

Premier Chase confirmed runners and riders

Zanza Micheal Nolan
Le Milos Harry Skelton
Empire Steel Ryan Mania
The Shunter Donagh Meyler
Wishing And Hoping Alex Edwards

Morebattle hurdle confirmed runners and riders

Colonel Mustard Kieren Buckley
Tritonic Adrian Heskin
Cormier Sean Quinlan
Nayati Peter Kavanagh
Benson Ryan Mania
Luttrell Lad Sean Bowen
Mctigue Donagh Meyler
L'Eau Du Sud Harry Skelton
Wajaaha Liam McKenna
Teddy Blue Caolin Quinn
Lebowski Richard Patrick
Collingham Charlie Maggs
Deere Mark Adam Wedge
Clear White Light Jack Hogan
El Muchacho Mitchell Bastyan
Thereisnodoubt Derek Fox

Read more . . .

Six handicappers who may have been let in lightly at the Cheltenham Festival weights   

Tattersalls to reoffer 475,000gns colt not paid for by Derby-winning owner at breeze-ups next month  

Festival subscription offer | 50% off three months 

The Cheltenham Ultimate Guide 2023, out Friday, March 3. Order your copy here.