Large challenge to Dunwoody and Man

Racing

Racing

JOHN COBB

One Man may seem like a ''good thing'' for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after his emphatic King George win, but there are plenty of trainers still willing to pit their horses against him. Entries for the race, published yesterday, stand at 38, the third highest entry in eight years, and include such unlikely candidates as the tailed-off favourite in 1992, Carvill's Hill, and the novice St Mellion Fairway.

Richard Dunwoody will now keep the ride on One Man until the end of the season after discussions between the horse's owner, John Hales, and the trainer Gordon Richards.

Hales said: "This will be One Man's first Gold Cup and Gordon and I agree that it would be wise to retain the services of Richard Dunwoody, whose experience in the race could prove invaluable. It is now possible that One Man may not have a race prior to the Festival as Gordon has been offered the facilities of some of the northern courses to help in One Man's preparation. Should One Man have a race, the most likely venue would be Cheltenham on 27 January."

Tony Dobbin, who was replaced by Dunwoody for the King George, must now hope that he will be able to partner Unguided Missile, another chaser from Richards's stable entered for the Gold Cup.

"I half expected this to happen," Dobbin said, "but I am still very disappointed. I definitely think he will win the Gold Cup. I just hope the horse is around longer than Richard Dunwoody."

A surprising absentee from the entries is last season's King George winner, Algan. Francois Doumen, successful with The Fellow, has Val D'Alene as his sole representative. The United States champion, Lonesome Glory, due to run in the Peter Marsh Chase on Saturday, has also earned an entry.

Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup (14 March): Entries: Banjo, Barton Bank, Bradbury Star, Brief Gale, Cache Fleur, Carvill's Hill, Chatam, Couldnt Be Better, Deep Bramble, Dublin Flyer, Earth Summit, Flashing Steel, Flyer's Nap, General Rusty, Grange Brake, Imperial Call, Jodami, King Of The Gales, Life Of A Lord, Lonesome Glory, Lord Relic, Lo Stregone, Master Boston, Master Oats, Merry Gale, Miinnehoma, Monalee River, Monsieur Le Cure, Nuaffe, One Man, Rough Quest, Royal Athlete, St Mellion Fairway, Suny Bay, Unguided Missile, Val D'Alene, Willsford, Young Hustler.

Tote: 13-8 One Man, 9-2 Master Oats, 10-1 Dublin Flyer, 14-1 Banjo, Jodami, Monsieur Le Cure, 16-1 others

Coral: 7-4 One Man, 5-1 Master Oats, 10-1 Dublin Flyer, 12-1 Jodami, 14-1 others.