Festival hero Myretown has Newbury aim

Myretown’s productive work in training has pleasantly surprised Peter Scudamore as the eight-year-old targets Coral Gold Cup glory at Newbury next month.

The eight-year-old won on three of his five starts last season, which culminated with a cosy victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham by 11 lengths in the hands of Patrick Wadge.

Scudamore, who is assistant to the training pair of partner Lucinda Russell and son Michael Scudamore, set out Myretown’s immediate goals for the new campaign after recently impressing during a racecourse gallop.

“Obviously he is amongst the favourites for the Coral Gold Cup and that’s his aim,” Scudamore said.

“Whether we take him to Wetherby to run him over hurdles first – I wouldn’t want his mark to change too much before – that’s something in the back of our minds.

“He had a racecourse gallop the other day and he actually went very well. He went with Ahoy Senor and actually went better than Ahoy Senor, which surprised me.

“That’s where we are really. We are on course, it’s just how we get him to the Coral Gold Cup.”

Derryhassen Paddy was described as a “very exciting prospect” by Scudamore, who raised the possibility of the six-year-old turning his hand to fences in the near future.

“He actually schooled the other day over fences, he was very good,” he added. “He’s obviously a very exciting prospect.

“I remember when chasing Michael Dickinson’s horses – they were quite extraordinary – and you feel the same chasing Willie Mullins’ horses, he looks to have one or two very, very good three-mile hurdlers.

“But this side of the Irish Sea, perhaps, Derryhassen Paddy looks amongst the best. He will go to Newcastle, god willing, for his first run.”

Apple Away was a Grand National hope for Arlary House, but she did not make the grade after three runner-up placings from five races including a second in the last season’s trial at Haydock.

Last month, however, she was officially awarded victory in the Oddschecker Grand National Trial Handicap Chase after Nicky Richards’ winner Famous Bridge was disqualified for an illegal substance.

A similar path to Haydock looks to be the way forward for the eight-year-old.

“She will probably go down the Mares’ Chase route,” Scudamore concluded. There’s a Mares’ Chase at Carlisle, then there’s a Mares’ Chase at Market Rasen, then there’s a Mares’ Chase at Newbury.

“Then she would go back to the Haydock Grand National Trial, which she got (handed to her). That’s her route.”