'He's training well and has 2lb less' - Fugitif camp confident about December Gold Cup repeat bid

Richard Hobson (left) after Fugitif's December Gold Cup win with (left to right) jockey Gavin Sheehan and owners Carl Hinchy and Emad HussainCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Fugitif is primed for a bold defence of his Nyetimber December Gold Cup crown at Cheltenham on Saturday after running “an absolute stormer” on his comeback last month, according to his trainer Richard Hobson.

The nine-year-old was pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National meeting last season, but put those efforts behind him to finish a respectable fifth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, and the sponsors of that race make him 5-1 favourite to land back-to-back December Gold Cups.

“It was a really good run,” Hobson said of his stable star, who had undergone wind surgery prior to his reappearance.

Read the full story

Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.

Subscribe to unlock

Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data

Already a subscriber?Log in

Charlie HugginsReporter

Published on 9 December 2024inBritain

Last updated 19:29, 9 December 2024

Copy