Macaire Cross-Country Ace Primed For Sporting Index Chase

French champion trainer Guillaume Macaire is launching an assault on the #35,000 Sporting Index Chase with crack cross-country chaser Plum'tee, at Cheltenham on Countryside Day tomorrow, Friday, November 10, 2006.

Macaire is hoping to land the three mile, seven-furlong cross-country chase with the 11-year-old half-bred, who he holds in high esteem and who was only recently brought out of retirement.

The gelding boasts an impressive record in cross-country races in his native France. From 17 starts in the specialist discipline he has tasted defeat only once in 13 completed rounds.

The Frenchman revealed today: 'Plum'tee had very bad legs and with good legs he would have had a totally different career because he's a good horse. Looking back through his form, you will see that he is a very consistent horse and has won nearly all his races - except when he was unlucky or brought down.

'He was in the field for three years and was considered retired, but one day his owner came to me and said we should try again with him. He won first time out and has won each of his races since very easily.'

After winning at Compiegne in October 2003, Plum'tee was not seen on a racecourse again until August 2006 when easily winning a cross-country chase at Pompadour. He followed up at Craon later that month and was a decisive victor over three miles, one furlong on good ground at Nancy on October 15.

Macaire reported: 'He is in very good form and I want to try him at Cheltenham because in France the ground is too quick, and I want safe ground for him to save his legs.

'The Sporting Index Chase is a good opportunity for a French horse who is a specialist in this type of race. Plum'tee maybe has a little advantage against the domestic horses who are perhaps not as specialised. It's a good moment to try this with him and if it's satisfactory then we will come back for the Sporting Index Handicap Chase over the same course next month.

'It is difficult to judge the real level of the other contenders, but if I look at Ferdy Murphy's Ivoire de Beaulieu, who is an ex-French cross-country horse and won the Sporting Index Handicap Chase last year, then I suppose my horse is a similar level or maybe a little bit above. It's difficult to say exactly.'

Plum'tee has never raced beyond three miles, one furlong but Macaire is hopeful the gelding's style of running will be suited to the marathon trip.

He said: 'It is the first time that he will run over this long a trip but he is not a tense horse and he has a long, fluent action. The important thing is to save energy over the obstacles.

'It is necessary to have a safe ride without traffic problems and mistakes, but he's a good jumper and is able to adapt in his races. He is fresh and, while he's 11-years-old, the engine is new and there are not a lot of miles on the clock. It's a new challenge for him and he will try his best.'

The Sporting Index Chase has 14 declared runners including Cheltenham cross-country chase specialist Spot Thedifference, trained by Enda Bolger, who is bidding for a hat-trick of victories in the race, having also taken the prize in 2004. He is seeking a fifth success over the course and distance.

Bolger is also represented by Buailtes And Fadas, winner of the 2003 La Touche Cup at Punchestown and third in the Sporting Index Chase over the course and distance at The Festival.

The Philip Rothwell-trained Native Jack, successful in the Sporting Index Chase at The Festival, is bidding for another course and distance success, as is the Ferdy Murphy-trained Ivoire de Beaulieu.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Royal Auclair, fourth in the 2005 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and runner-up to Hedgehunter in that season's John Smith's Grand National is having his first taste of the Cheltenham cross-country chase course.

Countryside Day kicks off the three-day Open Meeting with a high-quality six-race card that begins at 1.20pm with the #17,500 paddypower.com Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase. This contest has attracted a 10-strong field including Festival winner Hot Weld, successful in the Letheby & Christopher National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup last season.

Race two is a fantastic renewal of the Grade Two #35,000 Anglo Irish Private Banking Novices' Hurdle (1.55pm).

The Paul Nolan-trained Guinness Galway Hurdle winner Cuain Na Grai is one of four Irish raiders among the nine declared runners.

Tom Hogan is set to run Grade Three Kevin McManus Bookmaker Joe Mac Hurdle winner Kalderon, while the Shane Donohoe trained Mill House Girl, runner-up that day, is also declared, alongside the Tom Taaffe-trained War General.

The home defence is headed by the Michael Chapman-trained Orpen Wide, Moon Over Miami from the Charlie Mann yard and the well-regarded Paul Nicholls charge, Ofarel d'Airy.

A good quality field goes to post at 2.30pm for the #30,000 Beards Jewellers Cup Handicap Chase (2.30pm) over two miles, which has attracted a nine-strong field including the 2004 winner Armaturk.

Other contenders include the Mark Rimell-trained Oneway, as well as Tysou from the Nicky Henderson yard, the Alan King-trained Nyrche, the Charles Egerton-trained Rubberdubber, and the David Pipe duo, Locksmith and Medison.

Countryside Day also features the #15,000 Royal Bank Of Canada Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (3.40pm) and concludes at 4.10pm with the #20,000 Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase.

The Open Meeting takes place over the three days of Friday, November 10, to Sunday, November 12, with the feature event being the prestigious #110,000 Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday, November 11.

LATEST GOING

Cheltenham Racecourse had two millimetres of rain overnight and the going remains GOOD on the chase and hurdle course, with a going stick reading of 7.5. The going also remains GOOD on the cross-country course with a going stick reading of 8.5. Cheltenham is experiencing a dry day today with some drizzle expected on Friday and Saturday. Sunday is forecast to be dry.