Cheltenham Gold Cup – Jonjo O’Neill has fingers crossed for drying ground for Minella Rocco
Minella Rocco, second in last year's Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup, stepped up his preparation for this year's renewal with a racecourse gallop at Huntingdon on Thursday.
JONJO O'NEILL is on weather watch for last year's Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Minella Rocco ahead of another bid in the blue riband race.
With concerns over a forecast cold snap played down by Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse in recent days, O'Neill is keeping his fingers crossed for the ground to dry out enough at Prestbury Park to show Minella Rocco at his best.
The Jackdaws Castle trainer expects his eight-year-old to be a genuine contender in the race should conditions be in his favour.
He stepped up his preparation for the Grade 1 contest on March 16 with a racecourse gallop at Huntingdon on Thursday.
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The JP McManus-owned gelding fell at Leopardstown in the Irish Gold Cup on his last start, previously running an encouraging race to finish fourth at the same track over Christmas.
O'Neill said: "He has come back from Ireland well and I am happy with him, he just needs the ground to dry out really.
Templegate's Treble
- NAP 4.15 Exeter - Coo Star Sivola: 'Has run well in some hot novice chases and he's in much calmer waters today'
- NEXT BEST 4.50 Exeter - Thomas Patrick: 'Beat a useful rival on his chase debut and he should love the step up to a marathon distance'
- TREBLE 3.00 Warwick - Socksy: 'Put another decent effort over fences last month and she should be hard to beat back against the mares'
"He popped round (Huntingdon) nicely and the idea was to go to the racecourse and give him a day out.
"If the ground does dry out at Cheltenham, we know the track and trip suits him well and if he can keep with them going down the hill, then we know he comes up it very well."