'I'm very happy with him and he's in a good place' - Kim Bailey saddles two in bid for more big-race success

Kim Bailey bids for a second Sodexo Live! Gold Cup success since 2019 as he saddles two runners in this wide-open 11-runner contest.

Course-and-distance winner Chianti Classico, who scored in last season's Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, will make his seasonal return alongside stablemate Two For Gold, who finished second in this race last year.

Henry de Bromhead holds leading claims with Amirite, while Dan Skelton is responsible for Mylesfromwicklow and Flegmatik. Our Power won this race in 2022 and lines up for the first time in almost a year.

What they say

Kim Bailey, trainer of Chianti Classico and Two For Gold
I'm very happy with Chianti Classico and he's in a good place. I hope he can run very well as he's ready to go. Two For Gold loves Ascot. He's an 11-year-old now and was placed in the race last year. It'll be his last season and we'll try to find some prize-money for him as we go along.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Solo
He's had breathing issues over the years and we tinkered with his wind again over the summer. But he goes well fresh and likes to race right-handed. This is the first try over three miles and we’ve always thought he might want this trip. I'm a bit nervous about the ground drying out because he does like to get his toe in. Provided the ground is genuinely good or on the easy side of good then he'll run.

Sam Thomas, trainer of Our Power
He's been off since that nasty fall in the Coral Gold Cup, so we're just looking to get a good run into him before we target some of the three-mile staying handicaps later in the season. He's done as much work as he can at home and will certainly come on for the run.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Flegmatik and Mylesfromwicklow
Mylesfromwicklow has an each-way chance. He ran nicely last time, has no weight, is probably better right-handed than left and I don't think three miles is a problem. The handicapper has a hold of Flegmatik and he probably wants the ground a little slower.

David Pipe, trainer of Neon Moon
He likes it round Ascot and he'll like the ground. He put up a career-best at Chepstow last time, but he'll need to put up another. He goes there in good form.

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