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Ginny’s Destiny given Cotswold Chase target

3 minute read

Paul Nicholls’ Ginny’s Destiny looks set for a return to Cheltenham next month with the multiple champion trainer highlighting the Cotswold Chase as his intended target after finishing third in Sunday’s Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon.

Trainer : Paul Nicholls. Picture: David Davies - PA

An excellent runner-up to Dan Skelton's high-class chaser Grey Dawning in the Grade 1 Turners' Novices' Chase at the Festival in March, he went on to once again fill the silver medal spot in the Grade 1 Close Brothers Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree a month later.

The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old was sent off a warm order for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on his reappearance last month but he failed to shine and was ultimately pulled-up when beaten by Harry Cobden.

Despite being pulled up on his return to action, the son of Yeats remained well-fancied for the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on Sunday. Whilst success never really looked likely for Ginny's Destiny at Huntingdon, Paul Nicholls' charge did fare better and stuck to his task to finish third behind impressive winner Djelo and the Dan Skelton-trained 2023 Ryanair Chase hero Protektorat.

A step up to three miles now looks on the cards for Ginny's Destiny, with the Cotswold Chase his intended next port of call.

Speaking in his Betfair 'Ditcheat Diaries' update on Monday, Nicholls said: "He ran OK, I think we worked out he wants a lot further than two and a half (miles) and Harry (Cobden) said he's probably left-handed,"

"We'll go back to Cheltenham now and I'm going to aim him for the Cotswold Chase. We'll get him nice and fresh and well, he's crying out for three miles, and it seems Cheltenham suits him very well.

"He'll have a little break and then we'll freshen him up for the Cotswold Chase."