Marlborough put himself firmly in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup picture with a superb weight-carrying display in the Chubb Chase on his seasonal debut at Cheltenham yesterday. Lumbered with top weight of 11st 11lb, the Strong Gale gelding was given a impeccable ride by Mick Fitzgerald with the pair cruising up to early leader Torduff Express and the fancied Samuel Wilderspin as the runners turned for home.
A fine leap at the second last took them to the head of affairs for a lead they never relinquished and the 9 to 2 favourite romped to a seven-length success over Torduff Express.
Marlborough had bypassed last month's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup due to the absence of the then-injured Fitzgerald and that may prove a blessing in disguise given the ground conditions on the day at Newbury.
He is now set for a visit to Kempton for St Stephen's Day Pertemps King George VI Chase for which bookmakers William Hill were impressed enough to issue a quote of 11 to 2.
The same firm have Henderson's charge at 14 to 1 for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Last year's Gold Cup runner-up Go Ballistic produced a superb performance to enter the King George reckoning when pulling off a 25 to 1 surprise in the Ladbroke Casinos Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier).
Richard Phillips' charge was given a 12 to 1 quote (from 25s) by Sean Graham for the Christmas showpiece following his six-length success over Master Rastus.
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