A decision about whether the outstanding Irish novice Nick Dundee will make an audacious bid for the Gold Cup or be kept for the Sun Alliance Chase won't be made until the eve of the Cheltenham Festival.
The winner of three of his four starts over fences, Nick Dundee is a warm favourite for the Sun Alliance but has received a quote of 10 to 1 "with a run" from Corals for the blue riband of National Hunt racing.
The gelding's owner, John Magnier, is currently abroad and will not return until the end of next week but his racing manager, Paul Shanahan, confirmed yesterday that there will be no rush decision either way.
"The boss is not going to tie himself down at this stage and there will be no decision until closer to the time. Everybody seems to think the Sun Alliance is the one we should go for but a lot can happen between now and then. The ground could change or running plans for some of the others could change so we will be in no rush," said Shanahan yesterday.
Should Nick Dundee get the green light for the Gold Cup, it could provoke a scramble for a jockey to ride him. Nick Dundee has been ridden in all his races this season by Norman Williamson who is unlikely to want to get off the King George winner and current Gold Cup second favourite Teeton Mill.
Cheltenham jockey arrangements have still to be finalised for Sunday's Punchestown winner Colonel Yeager who is being aimed at the Citroen Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Trainer Martin Lynch reported the gelding to be in good shape yesterday but as to whether Richard Dunwoody or Ruby Walsh will ride Colonel Yeager he was noncommittal.
"The jockey issue will be solved but there is no need to do it immediately. After Sunday we now have more options," said Lynch.
Arthur Moore has declined the opportunity to send Klairon Davis to Ascot on Saturday to take on Teeton Mill in the Mitsubishi Shogun Chase and will instead run his former two-mile champion chaser at Naas on the weekend after.
Robert Thornton took the riding honours at Hereford yesterday with a 409 to 1 double through Lough Lein Spirit and Cool Spot. Dublin River ended a two month barren spell for trainer John O'Shea when proving too strong for long-time leader Happy Minstral in the Arrow Claiming Hurdle.
Archer, a brother of former top class jumper Carvill's Hill (both formerly trained by Jim Dreaper), rallied gamely back past Rusty Bridge for a length and a quarter call in the Oswald and Rowland Symonds Hunters' Chase.
The runner-up's rider Richard Burton was found to have used his whip with excessive frequency and the stewards suspended him for two days (February 24th and 25th).
Trainer Nicky Henderson last night poured scorn on rumours that all was not well with his Elite Triumph Hurdle hope Katarino after bookmakers Coral had suspended betting on the Cheltenham Festival race.
The Lambourn trainer's mobile phone was red hot with press inquiries after the Barking firm stopped betting on the race at around five o'clock amid rumours that his horse was `under a cloud'.
