First Gold may switch to Leopardstown

Racing News round-up: The JP McManus camp have confirmed that the star French-trained stayer First Gold could have to switch from the King George to Leopardstown's Ericsson Chase if the ground at Kempton is not suitable.

Provisional plans have already been made for the double Gold Cup hero Best Mate to travel to Ireland for Saturday week's Ericsson but he is not the only one that may have to take that late diversion.

First Gold, a brilliant winner of the Heineken Gold Cup at Punchestown on his last Irish start in April, could also be affected if the going at Kempton on St Stephen's Day comes up too quick.

Frank Berry, the racing spokesman for McManus, said yesterday: "It's starting to look like it might be a real possibility the way things are going over in England. The horse is well and ready to go but we want safe ground for him."

Berry added: "The Ericsson is a definite alternative if Kempton isn't suitable. Yielding ground might be okay but any better than that would be a worry. Certainly, if it is too fast there First Gold will come to Leopardstown."

That would be a huge boost for the Leopardstown executive who already have Beef Or Salmon committed to the third festival highlight and who could yet have a late cross-channel influx to boost the race even further.

Berry confirmed that a McManus representative will walk the Kempton track at the weekend, a move that Best Mate's trainer Henrietta Knight is also planning to make. Best Mate hasn't raced in this country since his point-to-point days but First Gold ran disappointingly in last year's Ericsson, finishing a tailed off last behind Beef Or Salmon. The Francois Doumen-trained star also ran third to Native Upmanship in last year's Durkan.

First Gold is currently a 5 to 1 shot with Paddy Power to repeat his King George success of 2000 with Best Mate and Jair Du Cochet 2 to 1 joint favourites.

Already committed to the Ericsson are Le Coudray, Harbour Pilot and Colonel Braxton from the Dessie Hughes yard. The latter pair filled the places behind Beef Or Salmon last year.

Edward O'Grady also confirmed yesterday that his Champion Hurdle hope Back In Front will again lock horns with Solerina in the Bewley's Hotel Hurdle on Leopardstown's fourth day. The pair last met when Back In Front won the Morgiana at Punchestown where Solerina was third.

O'Grady also reported that the Aintree Hurdle winner Sacundai will appear in the Woodies Hurdle over three miles. "Sacundai had a harder race than he should have had in the Morgiana and he hadn't recovered in time by his next race. But he is fine again now," he said.

O'Grady's star novice chaser Pizarro will take his chance in the William Neville Chase despite having been pulled up in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse behind Nil Desperandum. "He had been fine since then and has had one nice school. He seems very well," the Co Tipperary-based trainer said.