Faasel takes his chance in Gold Cup

Faasel is all set to take his chance for Nicky Richards in the Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The six-year-old gave the mercurial Black Jack Ketchum an almighty fright in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby last month. But he is set to return to fences this weekend, a discipline at which he is very much unexposed.

"It was a bit of a sickener that Our Vic came out as we looked on a nice weight, but as long as Knowhere stays in we should be all right," said Richards.

"He's run four very respectable races over fences; you can forget his last run up at Ayr because he was over the top that day.

"He started his season off very well at Wetherby though, where he surprised one or two people, and he's in good form.

"I hope he runs a very good race. He's rated higher over fences because of his Arkle run where he finished fourth and he would have been a lot closer to Aces Four at Aintree but for a bad mistake at the cross-fence.

"He stayed on really well that day. I think he probably wants two-and-a-half to three miles now. I wouldn't want to drop him back to two as he doesn't enjoy it.

"I hope two-five round Cheltenham will suit him beautifully. They'll go a good gallop and hopefully he will be there to shoot at them at the bottom of the hill.

"Even from the days of the Mackeson and the Massey-Ferguson, this race always used to be easier to win than the other one (Paddy Power Gold Cup) as everybody liked to put their cards on the table early, but we've always had this race in mind."

Faasel is 16 to 1 with the sponsors for the Boylesports Gold Cup.

Palarshan's connections plan to take their time before confirming their horse a definite runner. Trainer Henry Daly reckons the nine-year-old is fairly likely to take his chance.

Palarshan is an 8 to 1 shot with the sponsors and was a fine fourth on his seasonal bow in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, despite being hampered by the fatal fall of Granit Jack.

He has produced other terrific efforts at the same course, winning the Grand Annual Chase of 2003 and finishing second in the Racing Post Plate last March on his first start for two years.

"I'm not quite sure, and I need to talk to the owner first in the next couple of days," said Daly.

"I think he will run, but it depends on a couple of things. We do want the ground to keep drying up, and if the weather stays how it is forecast, that should be fine.

"I am also just worried he has had very hard races on his last two runs at Cheltenham so we need to look at the race and see what else is running. I am happy with the horse and he schooled well this morning. We just need to decide if running is the right thing to do."

Nicky Richards has all but ruled Turpin Green out of the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. Instead, the eight-year-old, who was beaten only five lengths when third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, is likely to head to Ascot on December 22nd.

"He's in the Long Walk and the Lexus, and he's also got the option of a graduation chase at Ascot the same day as the Long Walk," said Richards. "So we've two at Ascot. He's still in the King George but he probably won't go for the Lexus; he's nearly certain not to go for the Lexus I would think. He'll probably get his ground at Ascot, so that is the favourite at the moment."