Bridgwater leaning towards Classic engagement for The Conitional

Newbury runner-up also has Grade Two entry on same card.

David Bridgwater is favouring the McCoy Contractors Civil Engineering Classic Handicap Chase for his improving eight-year-old The Conditional.

He also holds an entry in the Grade Two novice chase on the same card, but the former jockey feels the Ladbrokes Trophy runner-up deserves his chance in the feature race.

“I would probably say he’ll run in the handicap, but having said that I didn’t realise there’s bad weather coming,” said Bridgwater of his ante-post favourite.

“At the moment I’m going for the handicap, but if the ground does get really bad he might run in the novice.

“He does go on heavy ground, so that will only play to his strengths anyway. He ran so well at Newbury and he’s only 5lb higher.

“We’ve put him in the Gold Cup. He’s 142 at the minute, but if he wins this and he wasn’t in it, I’d be annoyed.”

Neil Mulholland is hoping conditions are not too demanding for Impulsive Star in his quest to register back-to-back victories in the race.

The ground was described as good when Impulsive Star landed the spoils by three and a quarter lengths from Calett Mad, and Mulholland will be praying for more of the same.

Impulsive Star was pulled up in both his subsequent starts last season and suffered a similar fate on his reappearance at Cheltenham last month.

Mulholland feels the soft ground was to blame and is expecting a much improved-display at the weekend.

“Everything’s fine. It’s all good and we’re happy with him – we’ve just been a bit unlucky with the ground,” said the Wiltshire handler.

“Hopefully it doesn’t go too soft. I think that’s been the main key really.

“Hopefully we can get a cleaner run this time.”

Follow us on Twitter racing365dotcom and like our Facebook page.
Neil Mulholland Impulsive Star

Latest