God's Own may go to Cheltenham festival without prep race

Tom George is not concerned if he has to send God's Own straight to Cheltenham without having a prep race in between.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Jan 2016, 00:00 BST
Last years Arkle runner-up Gods Own must have good ground to produce his best. Picture: PALast years Arkle runner-up Gods Own must have good ground to produce his best. Picture: PA
Last years Arkle runner-up Gods Own must have good ground to produce his best. Picture: PA

Last year’s Arkle runner-up has not been seen out since finishing third on his sole start this season in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter in November on ground softer than ideal.

Although keen to get a run into the eight-year-old ahead of a shot at the Queen Mother Champion Chase, for which he is as big as 33-1, the Slad handler is not willing to run the Grade One-winning chaser in unsuitable conditions.

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He said: “I can’t run him on this ground. He was third in the Haldon Gold Cup on ground that was too soft. He has been on a long break, but he is a horse we know goes well fresh, having run well off a break in the Arkle last year where he was the only one to put it up to Un De Sceaux.

“That performance was no fluke as he has won a Grade One and a Haldon Gold Cup on his ground.”