Gordon Elliott’s Backstage, the long-time ante-post favourite for the Cheltenham Foxhunters Chase on Gold Cup day, will not run in the coveted event having been found to be ineligible under the conditions of the three-and-a-quarter-mile event, writes Elliot Slater.
His absence from the contest has caused a wholesale reshuffle amongst all firms betting on the race and a number have revealed that they will refund all bets placed on Backstage who has earned more prizemoney than is allowed under the conditions of entry. The most exasperating aspect of this matter is that in revealing this news on February 23, Elliott admitted that he and Middleham Park Racing, the owners of the talented 10-year-old stayer, have known for some time that they would not be able to run but only now have chosen to pass the news on to the public. Fans of the Cheltenham Festival 2012 will have been disappointed by the news.
Connections of the gelded son of Passing Sale have now decided to go the conventional handicap route at Cheltenham and have given the recent six-time point-to-point winner the option of running in either the marathon Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase, or the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase, a contest the owners won last year with the ridiculously easy victor, Junior.
Richard Barber’s useful chaser Chapoturgeon has now advanced to the head of the list for the Foxhunters Chase and is generally a 6/1 market leader, whilst Backstage’s main aim this term remains a repeat assault on the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 14, in which he unseated rider at the 20th fence in the 2010 renewal when still in touch with the leaders, before running a respectable tenth last year behind Ballabriggs. Elliott’s capable stayer is a top priced 40/1 shot to gallop to glory at the showcase Liverpool meeting.
Meanwhile, the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting odds suggest the 2012 renewal of the race is set to be another classic.