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Johnson: Smad Place can dominate Gold Cup field

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Smad Place Cheltenham January 2016

Smad Place and Richard Johnson: winners at Cheltenham on Saturday

  PICTURE: Getty Images  

 By David Baxter 3:20PM 1 FEB 2016 

RICHARD JOHNSON thinks Smad Place’s connections have made the right call in aiming the front-running grey at the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup, believing the nine-year-old has the prowess to dominate his rivals for jump racing’s most coveted prize.

Last season the trailblazing Coneygree delivered a stunning performance from the front to win the Gold Cup and Johnson believes Saturday’s BetBright Trial Chase winner has the armoury to put up a similar performance in March.

With regular rider Wayne Hutchinson picking up an injury at Doncaster on the eve of Saturday’s race, Johnson was called into action and oversaw an impressive 12-length victory.

Trainer Alan King confirmed the Gold Cup, rather than the Ryanair, will now be the aim for Smad Place at the Cheltenham Festival and, writing in his Betway blog, Johnson is in no doubt the correct decision has been made.

“He jumps so well and Saturday proves that he really stays too,” said Johnson. “He seems to love it out in front and there’s every chance he may be able to dominate the Gold Cup field now that there is no Coneygree.”

He added: “Plenty has been written and said about the horse’s gutsy win. All I’d like to add is I think it’s definitely the right call to aim at the Cheltenham Gold Cup.”

Smad Place is a general 12-1 chance to strike gold at Cheltenham, in a market headed by King George runner-up Vautour at between 7-2 and 9-2.

Champagne can still flow

While Smad Place successfully auditioned for the festival, Champagne West failed to enhance his Ryanair Chase claims when pulling up as the 7-4 favourite in the Grade 3 handicap chase on the same Cheltenham card.

However, Johnson still retains faith in the eight-year-old and said: “I was particularly frustrated by the shuddering error that put paid to Champagne West’s chances as I’d been really pleased with him right up to that point.

“The horse seems to have come out of the race fine and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make a relatively quick return to the races in the next few weeks ahead of the festival. As to whether he goes down the handicap route or the Ryanair, we’ll know more after his next start.”

Dark horse

Wait For Me has been given a low-profile campaign this term, but last season’s Champion Bumper third could be worth watching come March.

A win at Kempton last week followed up the six-year-old’s Newbury success in December, and Johnson said: “He really is still a big baby.

“I’m convinced he’ll be better in a better race where they’ll go a lot faster. As for Cheltenham plans, we’ll just have to see. He’s in the novice hurdles, but could end up in a race like the County Hurdle.”

 

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