3 minute read

Monday’s racing round-up features the news that Gerri Colombe will not run at Windsor’s Winter Millions meeting this weekend…

Last year's Gold Cup runner-up Gerri Colombe will not run in Sunday's Fitzdares Fleur De Lys Chase at Windsor. The Gordon Elliott-trained staying chaser featured among the eleven entries for the valuable Windsor contest, but with Elliott not 100% happy with his nine-year-old, he has been ruled out. Speaking on Racing TV at Punchestown, Elliott said: "He won't run at the weekend, as he's just not there yet. He's coming, but we are just not there yet. There is no point in running him until he's ready. The Dublin Racing Festival is only a few weeks away so it will be tight for that, but we'll see. I'll have to talk with Brian (Acheson, owner). It's possible we could give him a run somewhere over hurdles."

Paul Nicholls has confirmed that his potential Grand National contender Kandoo Kid will not run prior to the release of the weights on February 11th. The Paul Nicholls-trained grey has been allocated a mark of 152 after winning the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, leaving the Ditcheat-based handler dreaming of Aintree glory for last year's Topham Chase third. "He's in great shape actually. I'm not going to run, definitely, before the National weights come out and risk getting any more," said Nicholls on his Betfair blog. "He keeps going up without running because everything behind him in the Coral Gold Cup is running well. He's 152 now and I want to keep him on that mark for the National – whether we give him another run or not beforehand…he doesn't have to because he is brilliant fresh and has been around Aintree. If we think he needs a run, I might look at that two-and-a-half-mile race at Newbury in early March (Greatwood Gold Cup, March 1). We may find something, but it is not essential. He's in good shape and we can't wait to go to Aintree."

The Il Est Francais team have confirmed they will run their gallant King George VI Chase at the Cheltenham Festival this season, with Saturday's Clarence House showdown between Jonbon and Energumene potentially pivotal in what race he heads to. The Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm-trained seven-year-old currently holds an entry in all three open Grade 1 chases at the Festival, with the Boodles Gold Cup, the Ryanair Chase, and the BetMGM Champion Chase, all still major possibilities.

Racegoers at Cagnes-sur-Mer were treated to a real winter warmer when Dioptase produced a striking debut performance in the Prix de Fabron on Monday. The three-year-old New Bay colt could hardly have been more impressive, quickening up in almost instant fashion to put the race to bed at the one-and-a-half-furlong marker before striding clear for what would prove an emphatic and taking eight-length triumph. The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained debutant, who was always towards the fore in the newcomers' contest, looks to have a very bright future after carrying the same colours to victory as the subsequent three-time Group 1 winner and Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Ace Impact did when he made a winning start to his career on the all-weather at Cagnes-sur-Mer in January 2023.