RACING:FORPADYDEPLASTERER WILL try to secure a first victory since a memorable Cheltenham festival success in 2009 when he lines up in today's Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.
Two Irish-trained horses have won the prestigious prize in the past but none since it was turned into a Grade One in 2007.
Forpadydeplasterer faces seven opponents which include some of Britain’s top two-milers like Finian’s Rainbow and Al Ferof.
However, the Irish hope runs on the back of a couple of good home efforts behind Big Zeb and represents the father-son team of Tom and Bryan Cooper.
“He had to make his own running last time which doesn’t suit him. Hopefully we’ll get a lead. To be tucked in is all that he really wants,” Cooper said yesterday.
“Ascot is a very fair track and I think it will really suit him. The ground is one of the major factors why we are going over there.”
Barry Geraghty will be on board Prunella Dobbs’ Our Girl Salley in the feature mares.
“She arrived on Thursday night and she seems to have settled in well. She has run very well on her last couple of starts and is coming to England in good nick, so I hope she can run a good race,” Co Wicklow-based Dobbs said yesterday.
“It’s her first try at three miles but as long as the ground is not too tacky and draining, I think she’ll get it all right. It won’t be easy giving 5lb to everything else in the race but I hope she can run very well,” she added.
