Racing: Jair Du Cochet death hits Macaire

Just as racing's betting-related troubles seem set to multiply in an accumulator of gloom, a fresh shadow fell across the sport yesterday with the death of Jair Du Cochet, the leading French chaser who had been viewed as the main challenger to Best Mate for next week's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Just as racing's betting-related troubles seem set to multiply in an accumulator of gloom, a fresh shadow fell across the sport yesterday with the death of Jair Du Cochet, the leading French chaser who had been viewed as the main challenger to Best Mate for next week's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Guillaume Macaire-trained seven-year-old was put down after breaking a leg on the gallops. The British vet Buffy Shirley-Beavan, who was at Macaire's yard, said that Jair Du Cochet had done "a sparkling piece of work as part of his final preparations for the Gold Cup, but unfortunately he pulled up lame with a very bad fracture to his off-hind cannon-bone, which, sadly, could not be repaired. The horse looked well and did a brilliant piece of work and it's hard to explain why it should happen."

Jair Du Cochet had staked his Festival claims by humbling the dual Gold Cup winner Best Mate in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon in November. A lamentable run followed in the King George VI Chase at Kempton over Christmas, when Macaire's charge started 2-1 favourite was eventually pulled up after losing all chance with an early blunder. But Jair Du Cochet reasserted his credentials with an impressive victory in Cheltenham's Pillar Property Chase in January.

The bookmakers were quick to recognise the void left in the staying chasers' ranks. Best Mate is now 1-3 with Coral to complete a hat-trick, with Kingscliff rated his strongest rival at 8-1.

Andrew Thornton, who returned to action on Monday after a five-week absence with a broken arm, confirmed that Robert Alner's seven-year-old would be his Gold Cup ride even though the yard's other possible had pleased him in a workout yesterday. Sir Rembrandt has been pulled up on his last two starts, but Thornton said: "I got a very good feel from Sir Rembrandt when I popped him over a dozen fences this morning. It's great that he looks to be back in the Gold Cup running. But unless something untoward happens, I shall stick with Kingscliff."

Kingscliff, who won at Ascot and Cheltenham this season before finishing a tame second to Artic Jack at Haydock in January, when he aggravated an injury, took the Foxhunter at last year's Festival. Lord Atterbury, a leading fancy for next week's renewal, improved his prospects of making the line-up when pleasing his trainer, David Pipe, yesterday.

"Lord Atterbury has been under the weather, but he galloped this morning and worked well and the signs are looking more promising," Pipe said. "If he goes he won't be totally fit but then again the race has lost good horses such as Ask The Natives and that in itself gives us a better chance."

Venn Ottery gained his fourth victory for Paul Nicholls at Hereford yesterday, after a blip at Market Rasen on Sunday. The nine-year-old's owner and former handler, Oliver Carter, backed him at 1,000-1 for the Champion Chase before Venn Ottery struck form for his present trainer, as his handicap rating has rocketed from 87 to 130 and still rising.

In the less quixotic world of the Flat, Aidan O'Brien holds 10 of the 84 entries for the 2,000 Guineas, including the long-time market leader One Cool Cat, who continues to exude good vibes at Ballydoyle. "Everything has gone smoothly so far," O'Brien said. "He is big and scopey, and always the type of horse who was going to make a better three-year-old. He is 60 kilos heavier now. He seems to be a more laid-back horse.

"His most impressive work is when you ask him to make up five, six, maybe eight lengths very quickly, and it's not so much what he does when he gets there, but how quickly he does it that amazes you. It's possible he will go straight to Newmarket, more likely than not."

The 1,000 Guineas has attracted 10 fewer entries, with a seven-strong hand for O'Brien. Saeed Bin Suroor has 14 possibles for the fillies' Classic and 17 for the colts' equivalent.

CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP (Cheltenham, Thursday 18 March): Coral ante-post odds: 1-3 Best Mate, 8-1 Kingscliff, 9-1 Therealbandit, 10-1 Keen Leader, 11-1 Beef Or Salmon, 16-1 Truckers Tavern, First Gold, 20-1 Harbour Pilot, 33-1 Rince Ri, Irish Hussar, Arctic Jack, 40-1 Fondmort, La Landiere, 50-1 others. Ladbrokes: 1-2 Best Mate, 9-1 Kingscliff, 12-1 Beef Or Salmon, Keen Leader, Therealbandit, 14-1 Truckers Tavern, 20-1 First Gold, Harbour Pilot, Irish Hussar, 33-1 others. William Hill: 1-2 Best Mate, 10-1 Kingscliff, Keen Leader, Therealbandit, 12-1 Beef Or Salmon), 14-1 First Gold, Truckers Tavern (from 16), 25-1 Harbour Pilot), Irish Hussar, 66-1 others.

* Today's meeting at Bangor is subject to a precautionary inspection at 9am in case of frost.