Fitz Takes Copsale Ride

Mick Fitzgerald has bitten the bullet and elected to ride Copsale Lad ahead of Crozan in tomorrow's Paddy Power Gold Cup.

With first call on trainer Nicky Henderson's pair, the rider admitted he had been agonising over the decision for a number of days as he believes each has rock-solid credentials.

However, he eventually plumped for Copsale Lad, who at 8-1 is four points shorter than Crozan in the sponsors' betting.

Barry Geraghty has picked up the ride on the latter.

Copsale Lad is still waiting for his first chase success outside novice company but appeared unlucky when badly hampered in last year's renewal.

Confirming his choice for a race he won with Fondmort four years ago, Fitzgerald said: 'It was a very tough call and I firmly believe both horses have very good chances.

'Both will go well at Cheltenham and both will go well over the trip and on the ground.

'I have been thinking long and hard about this and as I have ridden both, and they are in such fantastic shape, they have made it even harder.

'It is not like one of them has been showing less so I had an easier decision.

'But a choice has to be made, and I am fairly sure I have made the right one.'

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