Cheltenham eyes declaration switch

The field for the Paddy Power Gold Cup could be declared at the 48-hour stage next year, following the uncertainty that has clouded this year's renewal since the five-day declarations on Monday.

Three horses - Don't Push It, Granit Jack and Abragante - have dominated the betting for tomorrow's handicap chase, a Grade Three event and the first major race of the jumps season, for much of the week. When the declarations are finally made this morning, though, Don't Push It will be missing after suffering a setback, while Granit Jack and Abragante will line up only if there are sufficient withdrawals further up the handicap.

Both these runners are young, progressive chasers from top yards, but it is hard for punters to consider the race properly without knowing for sure whether one, both or neither will be running, and many local papers will be unable to print the final card today because the declarations will arrive after their copy deadline.

All Flat races are now declared at the 48-hour stage, but it is mandatory only for non-novice Grade One jumps races. Racecourses, however, have an option to declare at 48 hours for novice Grade Ones and Grade Three Handicaps, such as the Paddy Power and the Grand National.

"It's something that we'd want to have a good look at," Andy Clifton, Cheltenham's communications manager, said yesterday, "particularly after this year, when we've had two or three leading fancies that are only 50-50, at best, to get in.

"The Paddy Power has been a 48-hour race, I think the last time was three or four years ago, and it's something we look at and review with trainers and sponsors during the season and once it is over."

This year's influential Timeform Chasers and Hurdlers annual proposed that all jumps races should declare at 48 hours, to ensure that the sport is not "missing out on valuable promotion and the opportunity to widen interest in the sport".

"We completely understand the problems for punters and what it can mean for betting turnover, but this is an unusual year in that it looks like we are going to have 20 runners for the first time since 1963," Clifton said. "There is a wider issue in terms of 48-hour decs whereby the jury is out in terms of the benefit it brings, and it's not necessarily something we'd be standing behind on an overall basis, but for individual races like this one, it's something we will always look at. It is unlikely to be an issue every year, but sometimes it is better to take action just in case a situation arises."

Mick Fitzgerald, who won the Paddy Power four years ago on Fondmort, is to ride Copsale Lad in tomorrow's race, with Barry Geraghty booked for Crozan, his stablemate at Nicky Henderson's yard. There is less positive news of another resident of Seven Barrows, however. Trabolgan, who has not seen a racecourse since his victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November 2005, has had another setback, and may be absent at least until the new year.

Mossbank, trained by Michael Hourigan, was an impressive winner of the Clonmel Oil Chase at Clonmel yesterday, earning a 6lb penalty for this year's Hennessy which takes his weight in the long handicap to 9st8lb. Justified, the favourite for the race, was prominent in the early stages but faded quickly.

"It's great to see him win a race that Dorans Pride won four times and Beef Or Salmon once," Hourigan said. "I've probably found out how to train him now, so I keep him fresh." Mossbank is 10-1 (from 14-1) for the Hennessy with Totesport and just 8-1 with Ladbrokes.