MARLBOROUGH FACES FOUR Marlborough will face just four rivals when he warms up for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup in tomorrow`s Stg£25,000 Jim Ford Challenge Cup Chase at Wincanton. Mick Fitzgerald is booked to ride the Nicky Henderson-trained chaser, 7-1 third favourite for the Gold Cup with Ladbrokes. The jockey, whose presence aboard the gelding is considered essential, is expected to shake off the effects of an elbow injury in time to ride the eight-year-old. Marlborough`s opponents are Course Doctor, Double Thriller - winner of the race two years ago, The Toiseach and General Wolfe - the latter having been switched from the Racing Post Chase at Kempton on Saturday. Mark Gichero, spokesman for owners The Winning Line, explained: 'We had a late change of plan. 'The ground at Kempton seems to be drying out and it looks like the weights are going to rise dramatically. 'A lot of the main dangers had looked as if they would be out of the handicap and we don`t want to go back to himlugging big weights around - we`d prefer him to run in races like this off levels. 'It`s a big ask to beat Marlborough but we know General Wolfe jumps well, appreciates the ground and stays three miles.' Crocadee, who had been expected to run in the Jim Ford for The Winning Line, has been rerouted to Kempton`s Keyline Builders Merchants Pendil Novices` Chase.
