racing_news/

New Alco Pencilled In For Boylesports.com Gold Cup
24/11/06

Trainer Ferdy Murphy is hoping that Paddy Power Gold Cup third New Alco can go two places better in the £150,000 Boylesports.com Gold Cup over two miles, five furlongs on day two of Cheltenham's Boylesports International, Saturday, December 9.

The Boylesports.com Gold Cup has received a £40,000 prize money boost thanks to the generous support of Boylesports, Ireland's fastest growing independent bookmaker, and is one of the feature races of the Boylesports International, which commences on Friday, December 8.

New Alco stayed on well to finish three and a half lengths third to Exotic Dancer in the two mile, four and a half furlong £110,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup on November 11, and Murphy believes there is more to come from the five-year-old.

Murphy revealed this morning: "New Alco will have an entry in the Boylesports.com Gold Cup. I was very pleased with his last run at Cheltenham and he's in grand form. He's only five and I think he'll be one of those that will keep on improving.

"The ground doesn't make a difference to him. Whether it's good or soft, it wouldn't be a worry."

Entries for the Boylesports.com Gold Cup close tomorrow, Wednesday, November 22. All other races at the Boylesports International close at the six-day stage.

Murphy is hoping to field a strong team at the Boylesports International, which stages two days of excellent racing at the spectacular home of Jump racing.

The North Yorkshire handler is looking for a repeat victory with cross-country specialist Ivoire De Beaulieu in the £23,000 Sporting Index Handicap Chase on Friday, December 8. The seven-year-old French import took last year's thrilling renewal by two and a half lengths from Shady Lad.

Ivoire De Beaulieu heads to the three mile, seven furlong cross-country contest after finishing eighth in the Sporting Index Chase at Cheltenham's Open Meeting - his first outing since Boxing Day, 2005.

Murphy reported: "Ivoire de Beaulieu will go for the Sporting Index Handicap Chase again. He came out of his last race fine with not a bother on him and I'm happy with him.

"All of my horses returned great from The Open at Cheltenham. They were all sound and are in good form."

The feature race of Friday's high-quality seven-race card is the Boylepoker.com Chase over three miles, one and a half furlongs, which carries fantastic doubled prize money of £100,000.

Murphy is hoping to run exciting young chaser Another Promise - who won his first two starts over fences before falling in a good quality Bangor handicap won by Bob Bob Bobbin on November 8 - alongside 2005 Scottish Grand National winner Joe's Edge.

The trainer said: "Another Promise and Joe's Edge will be entered in the Boylepoker.com Chase. I'm pleased with them both and, after Cheltenham, the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby will be the aim for Another Promise."

Saturday's superb seven-race card also features the £200,000 Boylesports.com International over two miles and a furlong, which was won last year by the brilliant Noel Meade-trained Harchibald, who could hopefully return this year, with Greatwood Hurdle victor Detroit City set to be one of his top-class rivals.

The Grade Two Boylesports.com International is one of the season's premier races for Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle candidates. Boylesports has transformed the prize money and is also offering a huge £200,000 bonus (£180,000 to the owner, £10,000 to the trainer & £10,000 to the yard's stable staff) to any horse that can win the Boylesports.com International and the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 13.

The Boylesports International will be staged on Cheltenham's New Course, which has not been used since May.