Go Go Geronimo’s connections had their prayers answered this morning when the eight-year-old made the cut for Friday’s St James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase, although Dubai Quest misses the race.
Dubai Quest is injured and will not be seen in action again this season, reports trainer Tom Ellis, with the result that his wife Gina Andrews is not expected to ride in the race. Ellis said: “We’ve been planning for this race for a year and he picked up the injury in his final gallop.” Andrews’ brother, Jack, rides Not That Fuisse for Dan Skelton.
The Kelly Morgan-trained Go Go Geronimo (pictured above right) needed three of the five-day entries to come out in order to make the line-up, but he had been given an entry at Carlisle on Sunday as a back-up. That option is no longer needed for John Chatfeild-Robert’s horse who will become a third ride in the race for his son Tom.
Among those not declared were David Christie’s Ferns Lock, who won in Ireland at the weekend, and his stablemate Winged Leader, who was a close second to Billaway last year. Christie’s Vaucelet, winner last year of the Pertemps Champion Hunters’ Chase at Stratford, heads the current betting market.
Billaway runs again for Willie Mullins’ stable, while Britain’s progressive hope Famous Clermont, from Chris Barber’s yard, has also been declared.
David Maxwell’s colours will be carried by the Paul Nicholls-trained Cat Tiger, the mount of reigning Highflyer Bloodstock novice men’s champion Charlie Sprake, and Bob And Co, who will be ridden by Alice Stevens for Harry Derham’s yard. Nicholls also runs Secret Investor under Natalie Parker, while his daughter Olive rides the Sam Loxton-trained Shantou Flyer.
Alan Hill is doubly represented by last year’s third, Mighty Stowaway under Ben Sutton, and I K Brunel, who will be ridden by Izzie Marshall, while Brad Gibbs rides Premier Magic, who he also trains.
John Dawson, who returned to riding at the weekend after an injury lay-off, will ride Black Op for Emma Clark, while Dandy Dan, who won last year’s Ineos Grenadier Mixed Open final at Cheltenham, will be ridden for the first time in public by reigning mens’ champion James King.