Cumani reveals Melbourne glory plan

Trainer Luca Cumani is hopeful that Manighar can end his long wait for success in the Melbourne Cup (Manighar 12/1 Win And Each Way with bet365) on Tuesday.

Cumani has been looking to get his hands on the Australian prize since 2005 and went close in 2007 with Purple Moon going to within half a length of winning, while in 2008 Bauer was beaten by just a nose.

Manighar appears to have the best chance this year, but Bauer (40/1 Melbourne Cup Win And Each Way with bet365) will also represent Cumani and no doubt aim to go one better than two years ago.

“It’s a race I’ve always followed,” the trainer said.

“Five years ago I came over with a horse called Glistening, who came 10th, and by then I was gripped by the idea of it and I wanted to try to win it one day.

“I went very close, it couldn’t really have been any closer.

“It is an incredible atmosphere, and there’s a great build-up that increases day-by-day. You don’t expect to win it, but it would be really nice.”

Charlie Hall Chase trends

Although the racing world seems fixated on the Melbourne Cup betting action, with the big race just a few days away now, it’s the Charlie Hall Chase, widely regarded as one of the most important and informative staying events of the National Hunt season, that has attracted our attention today.

Contrary to popular opinion, it is actually a poor race to follow with an eye to finding the future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner. Incredibly, none of the last 34 winners of the Wetherby showpiece have gone on to glory in the Festival showpiece since Davy Lad’s triumph in 1975, so if you are looking to land this year’s Ten To Follow Competition, you are advised to take note of these stats. Dual winners have become increasingly popular in recent times with the likes of Celtic Shot (1990 and 1991), Barton Bank (1993 and 1995), One Man (1996 and 1997), See More Business (1999 and 2000), and Ollie Magern (2005 and 2007) all having achieved the Wetherby double.

So, it would be foolish to rule out the defending champion Deep Purple, who chases back-to–back victories in the event. The old boy Ollie Magern appears to have the stats and his age against him as he tries for an unprecedented third triumph, while Nicky Henderson’s pair of Barbers Shop and Duc De Regniere will be bidding to bring the Seven Barrows handler only his second win in the last 30 renewals.

Illness ends Frontieres Melbourne hopes

Shocking (7/1 Outright Ante Post with Stan James) is the favourite for next month’s Melbourne Cup following the news Sans Frontieres has been ruled out after suffering a muscle-related illness.

Barry Simpson, racing manager for owner Sir Robert Ogden, confirmed that the Jeremy Noseda-trained four-year-old has come down with a bout of Azoturia on Tuesday evening and will not travel to Australia for the showpiece event.

Simpson said: “He suffered a severe attack of azoturia (muscle stiffness) after he finished work on the (Newmarket) Heath on Tuesday night.

“It’s hugely disappointing for Sir Robert and everyone involved.

“We were all looking forward to having a runner in such a famous and prestigious race.”

The news is a huge blow given that Sans Frontieres was well fancied for the race following his success in the Irish St Leger at the Curragh.

However, Simpson revealed that they simply could not risk sending him on such a long journey Down Under.

He added: “We had veterinary people to see him straight away and the view is that he has reacted to the Australian food mix that he has gradually been given.

“It’s a massive ask to get a horse to Australia in the first place, so when something like this happens it makes it all the more difficult.

“It’s a bitter pill to swallow at the moment but the decision has been made.”

Queen’s Vase winner Holberg has final Melbourne Cup prep race

Holberg, one of Godolphin’s main hopes for glory in the 150th running of the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 2nd and top of many people’s lists of Melbourne Cup tips, has his last race before going into quarantine ahead of his journey to Australia when contesting the listed Mouton Cadet Classic Foundation Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday.

The four-year-old son of Halling was an impressive winner of the two-mile Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot in June, before showing his versatility in dropping back four furlongs to win in listed company at Goodwood in July. A good effort when a keeping-on third to Laaheb in the Group 3 September Stakes on the Polytrack at Kempton left connections optimistic that Holberg has what it takes to be competitive in Australia and, assuming that he runs well on Wednesday, he will enter quarantine ahead of his journey to the southern hemisphere in company with stable companion Campanologist, with the possibility of being joined by up to three other Godolphin-owned challengers.

Holberg has been allotted a competitive racing weight of 53.5kg, has the required stamina needed to see out the Melbourne Cup trip, and in winning in good company over a shorter distance this term has showed he has the necessary gears to stay in contention when the pace quickens.  A 50/1 chance with many British betting firms, the Saeed bin Suroor-trained colt  is available at even bigger odds with Australian layers, but could prove good value if putting in a winning performance at  Goodwood this week.

Campanologist, Godolphin’s other big hope to go one better than their Crime Scene in last year’s renewal of the Melbourne Cup, was last week confirmed an intended runner at Flemington. A dual German Group 1 winner this season, the son of Kingmambo pleased his trainer when finishing third in Newbury’s ‘Arc’ trial last weekend.

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Blue to miss Goodwood gallop

William Knight, trainer of Emirates Melbourne Cup 2010 contender Illustrious Blue, has had a last minute change of heart, deciding not to gallop his stable star after racing at Goodwood on Wednesday, ahead of his move into quarantine 24 hours later.

Knight had originally intended to work the seven-year-old at his local track but, after giving it much thought, has concluded that there is nothing to be gained in transporting the horse to do a piece of work and is now content to gallop the son of Dansili on his own training grounds at Angmering Park. The following day Illustrious Blue will travel up to Newmarket, where he will begin his stay in quarantine ahead of his journey to Australia and his bid to win one of the world’s most competitive horse races.

A winner of 10 of his 54 career starts, Illustrious Blue returned from a fruitless campaign in Dubai during the winter to show his best ever form this term in winning the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes at Ascot in April, before stepping up again in grade to land the Group 2 Goodwood Cup in late July, beating Electrolyser by a length-and-a-quarter. His last British start was in the Yorkshire Cup on the Knavesmire, where he was a strong-finishing fifth (beaten just two lengths) behind the smart Opinion Poll.

Following his bid for the Melbourne Cup (for which he is listed at Melbourne Cup odds of 20/1 with some British betting firms), Illustrious Blue will remain in Australia to continue his career with a local handler. Knight will doubtless be sad to see his stable standard bearer leave his care, but is surely more than grateful to the horse for providing him with the biggest successes of his training career to date.

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Weld targets more Melbourne glory

Master trainer Dermot Weld was the first European handler to land the Melbourne Cup when his great horse Vintage Crop took the 1993 renewal and the Irishman did it again in 2002 with Media Puzzle.

Now, Weld has once more set his sights on the prize, with both Profound Beauty and Thursday’s Ascot Gold Cup winner Rite Of Passage holding strong claims.

Even before the thrilling success of Rite Of passage over Age of Aquarius in a memorable renewal of the Royal Ascot feature, Weld’s Profound Beauty was being talked of as a possible favourite for the November race that brings the whole of Australia to a halt.

Profound Beauty had looked an ideal type for the Aussie marathon when getting the better of Age of Aquarius in the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown last month. A really tough and game mare who stays well, the daughter of Danehill has long been considered by Weld as just the right sort to bring up his hat-trick of Melbourne Cup victories.

Now though, following Rite Of Passage’s emergence as a top class stayer, Weld has an embarrassment of riches and it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that both horses might make the journey to the other side of the globe and bid to bring the massive prize money back to Ireland.

Rite of Passage is now the 10/1 favourite with Paddy Power for the Melbourne Cup, while Profound Beauty is a 14/1 shot.

Before any firm decision is made as to whether or not the Ascot Gold Cup winner will go to Australia, there’s the little matter of the Goodwood and Doncaster Cup’s as well as the Irish St Leger, should Weld choose to go down that particular route.