ONE MAN came through his final dress rehearsal for the Cheltenham Gold Cup without fluffing his lines watched by a very interested audience before racing at Carlisle yesterday.
The grey proved that he is ready to take centre stage when the curtain goes up for next Thursday's big race as he completed a sparkling public workout under Richard Dunwoody. Trainer Gordon Richards was delighted as his Gold Cup favourite three fences, his first under the champion jockey since the King George Chase, and then had a stiff blow round the two mile circuit.
The exercise put the grey right on target for his stiffest challenge in a contest Richards has yet to win.
"What he's done today is just spot on," said the trainer. "I'm very happy with his workout. He came over the fences like a bird and does everything easy. It's the first time Richard has jumped with him since the King George and he was very pleased with him. I was pleased with him before I brought him here and I'm going home even more pleased.
"I'm not going to be over cocky or anything like that but if you take the favourite for the Gold Cup you've certainly got a very good chance, haven't you?"
One Man schooled with Unguided Missile (Brian Harding), due to run in the Ritz or Cathcart Chase, before joining Stayers' Hurdle contender Better Times Head (Tony Dobbin) on a circuit of the track and finished full of running.
Dunwoody reported. "He felt great. We jumped the three fences and I didn't ask him too many big questions but he got in very close to the second and he fiddled it very well and jumped the last one great.
"He took a good hold and seemed very keen going down the back so I settled him in behind the other two. He's done a nice piece of work without overdoing it. I rode him at Haydock after racing II days ago and he was keen there and just as keen today.
Corals were unimpressed by One Man's gallop at Carlisle and lengthened the gelding's Gold Cup price. "We weren't disappointed with his gallop but we weren't particularly impressed either," said company spokesman Rob Hartnett.
"He got close to one fence and was out jumped at another so we have eased him out to 5-4 favourite from 6-5. We also feel that the ground is going against Alderbrook in the Champion Hurdle and there is a question, mark over the form of his Kempton win so we think he is only a 50-50 chance. He is now evens favourite from 10-11."
A decision on Jodami's participation in the Gold Cup is expected tomorrow. The 1993 winner of the Cheltenham showpiece has undergone tests after his disappointing performance in the Greenalls National Trial at Haydock last month.
Trainer Peter Beaumont said yesterday "Jodami is bright and well but there's nothing to add today we are just waiting for the results of the tests which are expected on Friday."
Graham Bradley claimed two plum Cheltenham rides yesterday when he was booked for Sun Alliance Chase challenger Johnny, Setaside and put on stand by for Collier Bay if Jamie Osborne chooses Mysilv.
Bradley, with six Festival winners to his name, will be reunited, with Irish Champion Hurdle winner Collier Bay should Osborne select the mare in the big race, as he has hinted.
And he has also added leading Irish novice Johnny Setaside, originally the mount of the suspended Paul Carberry and perceived as the principal danger to the favourite Mr Mulligan.
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