MURPHY'S Gold Cup runnerup Strong Promise is set to make a quick bid to go one place better on Saturday. Geoff Hubbard yesterday declared the five year old for the £40,000 added First National Bank Gold Cup at Ascot.
His gelding was beaten just a head by Challenger du Luc when racing from 19lb out of the handicap at Cheltenham and will be able to race off his proper mark this time.
Strong Promise was confirmed an intended runner by Hubbard's assistant Chris Kinane. "The plan is to run if the ground stays good to firm or possibly even good," he said. "But if the ground is good to soft he won't run."
Strong Promise will again be ridden by Kieran Gaule, whose four day ban for overuse of the whip last Saturday does not start until a week from yesterday.
The weights have risen 9lb on the defection of Ventana Canyon and Challenger du Luc, for whom Martin Pipe is considering a tilt at the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.
Trying Again is left to head the field on 11st 10lb in a limited handicap in which a minimum burden of 10st 3lb leaves only Plunder Bay of the 15 acceptors out of the weights.
Go Ballistic will definitely miss the race. John O'Shea's seven year old was an impressive winner over an extended three miles at Ascot earlier in the month and the trainer said: "I left him in to have a look at the race but he will go for the Gardner Merchant Handicap Chase over three miles on the same card."
