Ground key to Copsale

/ Editor / 03 March 2007 / Leave a Comment

Nicky Henderson has identified two possible Cheltenham entries for his recent winner, Copsale Lad, with the ground likely to be the determining factor.

After pulling up on his two chase starts this season, Copsale Lad put in an excellent display to win a competitive handicap hurdle at Newbury in early February.

If the ground remains soft the 10-year-old is likely to run in the Coral Cup on March 14, but if it dries out enough then the gelding may head for the Racing Post Plate on March 15.

"Copsale Lad has to go left-handed but he has to have good ground," he told At The Races.

"He has to have that ground particularly when he jumps fences and the other thing we are just considering is if it were soft, is switching him to the Coral Cup.

"We just wanted to get a run into him the other week at Newbury over hurdles but he was a revelation despite the ground."

Available at 25 for the Coral Cup, Copsale Lad is currently trading at 13 for the Racing Post Plate behind current favourite, Nycteos, on 12.5.