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Trainer Ryan Potter is hopeful that Jetoile has ‘a very good chance’ in Saturday’s Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury.
The nine-year-old surprised on seasonal reappearance with a victory in Aintree's Grade 2 Old Roan Handicap Chase and was expecting to remain in Graded company for a tilt at the Peterborough Chase in early December, which was abandoned. He was re-routed to the Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase on Trials Day and finished a staying-on fourth behind Ga Law.
"He's all good to go, his first target of the season was the Old Roan and as soon as the Peterborough Chase was called off we picked out this race," said Potter, in an interview with Sky Sports Racing.
"He ran at Cheltenham last time and ran a lovely race, but it was sort of an afterthought, so he probably will come on for the run at Cheltenham and hopefully it's all systems go for Saturday.
"We knew going to the Old Roan he was in the best form he'd ever been in and he'll go back to Aintree in April all being well, but we'll take it one race at a time.
"He has plenty of form going left-handed and seems to prefer a flat track, so I think he goes there with a very good chance.
"He has to carry a lot of weight, but we've got a very talented jockey in Dylan Johnston who claims 5lb. It still leaves us with top-weight even with the claim, but it all helps."
He will face eight other rivals, including Bill Baxter for the Warren Greatrex team. Winner of the Topham at Aintree in April, the grey gelding has produced some strong efforts in major staying handicaps including a fourth in Haydock's Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase.
"Things probably haven't fallen his way this season," said Greatrex.
"Obviously last season he did so well as he was coming through the ranks so it's a lot easier. This season he seems in as good a form as if not better, but whether it's been ground or whatever, things have just gone against him.
"He ran well round Cheltenham, we were happy with that and it looks like he will get his conditions at Newbury on Saturday.
"I think he does stay three miles but is also effective around two and a half, as long as the ground is heavy or very soft. The jockeys that ride him say he goes through soft or heavy ground like it's good ground and that's his big advantage.
Alan King's Grandeur D'Ame and Tom Lacey's Highstakesplayer share the head of the market, available at a general 9/2.