MARLBOROUGH CRUISES HOME AT WINCANTON Leading Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup fancy Marlborough demonstrated his well-being with a bloodless victory at Wincanton today. Nicky Henderson`s nine-year-old was sent off at 4-11 for the Jim Ford Challenge Cup and apart from getting close to one fence down the back straight for the final time his supporters never had a moment`s anxiety as the favourite cruised home by 11 lengths from long-time leader Double Thriller. Winning jockey Mick Fitzgerald said: 'It`s the same old story - they didn`t go quick enough for him. His jumping was a little bit not as good as it can be. 'You have to put him to sleep because they are not going quick enough but you have to wake him up for the jumping. When I opened him up in the straight he`s jumped a lot better because he`s going that stride quicker. 'He`s a very talented horse.' Marlborough is a best-priced 6-1 chance for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Azertyuiop upset some Smurfit Champion Hurdle hopes with a resolute victory in the Axminster Hurdle. The Paul Nicholls-trained four-year-old, one of just two horses in the nine-runner field not entered in the Cheltenham feature, was always travelling strongly for Adrian Maguire as Hit And Run set a furious pace. Azertyuiop led approaching the second last and although hard pressed by last year`s Champion Hurdle runner-up Hors La Loi III, the ex-French gelding kept on gamely to score by one and a quarter lengths. Grimes, the 3-1 favourite, dropped out tamely in the home straight and Hitman was another disappointment, never looking likely to take a hand in proceedings. Newmarket trainer James Fanshawe was well satisfied with Hors La Loi III`s improved performance after the gelding had been pulled up on his two previous runs this season. He said: 'We were very disappointed with him at Sandown. We took him to the Animal Health Trust but couldn`t find anything wrong with him. 'We`ve trained him pretty hard and hopefully he`s coming right in time.' Azertyuiop is a best-priced 7-1 chance with the Tote for the Elite Racing Club Triumph Hurdle. Hors La Loi III is 16-1 with Ladbrokes for the Champion Hurdle.
