OTHER SPORT

BURN UP THE GALLOPS

Richard Johnson and Alderburn have a great chance this afternoon

Saturday April 28,2007

By Bev Swingell

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HENRY DALY and Richard Johnson have had a week they would rather forget, with Mighty Man pulling up lame at Punchestown.

But it will end on a bright note if ALDERBURN (3.20) wins the Betfred Gold Cup for them. The eight-year-old is on a hat-trick having won his last two handicap chases and the form of his latest success at Newbury looks better still after the runner-up’s subsequent success at Cheltenham.

Like his market rival Reveillez there is no knowing if he will stay the extended three-mile five-furlong trip but at least he is bred for it, whereas Reveillez started life in six and seven-furlong maidens.

Jack High and Juveigneur fought out the finish in 2005 but Jack High was only ninth last year when My Will was beaten under two lengths by Lacdoudal.

Hot Weld is another with guaranteed stamina but it is asking a lot for him to give his best after making all the running in the Coral Scottish Grand National. I would not blame him for throwing in the towel .

Having fallen for one of Sir Michael Stoute’s talking horses yesterday – Mountain High – I shall be consistent and go for another, JEREMY (3.55), in the Betfred Mile.More excuses were made for him than any other horse last season but he did win a Listed and a Group Three in the first half of the campaign. He has 3lb in hand of Areyoutalkingtome and Bahia Breeze on those runs, so his best would be good enough to start the season on a winning note.

TREASURY COUNSEL (2.10, nap) has won two of his three starts over hurdles and can be forgiven the other run when he got bogged down in the mud at Hereford. He has a stiff task for a novice but is fresher than most and is on an upward curve.