Kim Bailey rules Chianti Classico out of Coral Gold Cup and has Trelawne build-up derailed by 'nightmare' weather

A prolonged dry period looks to have stalled Kim Bailey's plans to run Trelawne in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury on November 30, with the Grand National-winning trainer describing the lack of rain as a nightmare for jumps trainers.

Bailey, who has also ruled Chianti Classico out of the race, had hoped to use the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle on November 3 as a stepping stone to the race for Trelawne. Those plans were scuppered when officials at Carlisle were forced to water. 

Instead, the Cotswolds trainer hopes to get the eight-year-old's season started at Haydock on November 23, just seven days before the Coral Gold Cup.

"I want to run Trelawne but he wants soft ground," said Bailey. "He was going to run at Carlisle but you can't run him on watered ground and he's going to Haydock on Betfair Chase weekend for a graduation chase. We're praying it's going to be soft ground."

Trelawne has not run since falling at the second fence when well-fancied for the Ultima at Cheltenham in March but is raring to make his comeback, according to Bailey. 

Chianti Classico: will miss the Coral Gold CupCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"The weather is an absolute nightmare," he added. "You've got horses like Trelawne, who I'm desperate to run because I want to give him a run in a graduation chase before I go in a handicap. To go and run in a big handicap having had a fall at Cheltenham is not how I want to start off. Trying to press pause with these horses is a nightmare. 

"He was very sore after Cheltenham, but he's in a really good place now and I'm very pleased with him. The Coral Gold Cup was always my plan but you can't go there first time out."

Bailey has also ruled out Newbury's big race for last season's Ultima winner Chianti Classico, recuperating from his comeback win in the Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot at the start of the month.

"Chianti Classico had a hard race and you can see that," said the trainer, who hopes to bring his longtime assistant Mat Nicholls on to the training licence at Thorndale Farm soon. "He's still not back to himself yet and we're going to be very patient with him. He's got to show me he's back in the right direction before we start working out where we're going to go. 

"The Becher Chase is a definite possibility but I just don't know yet. He'll tell us when he's ready to run."

Coral Gold Cup (Newbury, November 30)

Coral: 8 Colonel Harry, Senior Chief, 10 Trelawne, 12 Broadway Boy, Chianti Classico, Horantzau D'Airy, Mahler Mission, 14 Stage Star, 16 bar.

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