Addington can figure

ADDINGTON BOY, the prolific novice who announced his arrival in the senior class with a good third in the Murphy's Gold Cup, looks a sound bet to defy top-weight in the Grade Three Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham this afternoon.

The Gordon Richards-trained eight-year-old ran eight times last season and won six, mopping up novice chases at Sedgefield, Bangor, Kelso before going on to lift the Pertemps Great Yorkshire Chase, the Mumm Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree and the Edinburgh Woollen Mill's Future Champion Novices' Chase at Ayr.

On his reappearance, he was sent off the 5 to 1 second favourite for the inaugural running of the Murphy's.

Racing in mid-division early on, he made progress towards the lead five fences from home, only to suffer dreadful luck on the run to the third last.

As the leader Dublin Flyer slipped on the turn and hit the floor, Addington Boy was very nearly brought down.

He did well to stay on his feet but stayed on to good effect from the second last to take third place, beaten a head and three and a half lengths behind Challenger du Luc.

That was a very encouraging effort considering the bend incident, and there is little doubt that without it, Addington Boy would have finished closer to the winner.

He is entitled to come on for his seasonal reappearance and, effective over two miles and five furlongs, Addington Boy can prove too strong for his rivals.

It is difficult to oppose Large Action in the Group Two Bonusprint Bula Hurdle.

A near-fore suspensory ligament injury kept this top-class hurdler off games for a year, but he gave an impressive performance in the Avonmore Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse at the beginning of this month.

Going to the front approaching the third last, he soon put his opponents in trouble and had a cosy six lengths to spare over Cockney Lad at the line.

Whatever his fate in the championship events later in the season, Large Action can repeat his victory of 1994 in this race.

One Man can complete a double for Richards in the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock, while the Mary Reveley-trained Endowment should win Doncaster's Racecourse Medical Officers Association Novices' Hurdle.