Red Square Vodka Gold Cup The Target For Kilbeggan Blade

Tom George is hoping to see a plan come to fruition as he targets the progressive Kilbeggan Blade at Haydock Park's richest handicap chase, the #125,000 Grade Three Red Square Vodka Gold Cup, which is run over three miles, four and a half furlongs on Saturday, February 17.

Kilbeggan Blade (10st 8lb), made 7/1 joint-favourite by Ladbrokes today along with last year's winner Ossmoses (11st), is one of 22 high-class chasers declared at today's confirmation stage for the feature event of Haydock's superb seven-race card, which will be shown live on BBC1 at 2.00pm. The going at Haydock is currently soft, heavy in places.

The trainer revealed today: 'The Red Square Vodka Gold Cup has been our aim for quite a long time. We've had it in mind for him and it's our target.'

Kilbeggan Blade will bid for a four-timer in the prestigious contest. The eight-year-old secured his most recent triumph over the course and distance in the Tim Molony Handicap Chase on December 16, defeating Truckers Tavern by nine lengths on heavy going.

George is hoping for a big run from his charge who defied a 13lb rise to win last time.

The Gloucestershire trainer reported: 'He seems to be progressing all the time and his work at home is improving. He's not exactly a young horse but it's all coming together for him.'

Kilbeggan Blade has won four of seven starts over fences since joining George from Irish trainer Michael Hourigan in the summer of 2005, and the trainer puts his progress down to a patient approach that included a spell point-to-pointing last year.

He said: 'We had him at home and my wife ran him in a couple of point-to-points just to get his confidence back and he won one. We gave him a bit of time and it paid off as he's now on for a four-timer.

'It's undecided as to who rides him on Saturday. We'll see the availability in the morning and speak to the owners.'

George could send a team of four for Haydock's excellent card on Saturday, with the potentially smart novice Good Citizen an intended runner in the #20,000 Gordon Plant Memorial Trophy Novices' Handicap Chase (3.10pm) over two and a half miles.

The seven-year-old won at Sedgefield in December before falling at Haydock later that month and then took a spill at the last when in second place at Cheltenham on January 27.

George reported: 'Good Citizen will school again on Wednesday. It was an unlucky fall at Cheltenham behind Flying Enterprise as he jumped beautifully the whole way round.

'He's unfortunate to have two ?Fs' next to his name as he's a very good jumper. I just think it's been bad luck really. He was in front too long at Cheltenham - he was a bit green. He was in front at the top of the hill and needed a lead.

'The horse has a lot of talent and it hasn't come together yet for him but hopefully it will. He won at Sedgefield but that wouldn't really be his kind of track. He'd be better on a galloping track.'

George has entered the stamina-laden novice What A Scientist in the #30,000 Grade Two Brit Insurance Prestige Novices' Hurdle (1.25pm) over an extended two miles, seven furlongs, while the former French-trained juvenile hurdler, Honour's Dream, could line up in the #20,000 Polyflor Victor Ludorum Hurdle (3.45pm) over two miles.

He said: 'What A Scientist won well over three miles on heavy ground at Towcester last time. I'd have thought he would need to improve to be competitive in this calibre of race but on the other side of it he'll stay the trip and will handle the conditions.

'He's quite a hard horse to place so we thought we'd aim him at the Brit Insurance Prestige Novices' Hurdle and see what happens.

He continued: 'Honour's Dream needs heavy ground and a staying track and he is also entered at Chepstow on Thursday so may take up that engagement.

'He was running a very good race at Wetherby first time when he fell. He had always schooled well at home and everything looked good for him but that fall knocked his confidence.

'He ballooned everything at Sandown last time and was never at the races. Hopefully, the penny has now dropped again and he can do at the races what he's capable of at home. He's schooling well again and he has all the right credentials.'

The 22 declared runners for the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup include last year's winner and third, Ossmoses and top-weight Sir Rembrandt (11st 12lb) from Robert Alner's Dorset yard.

Paul Nicholls has the classy Cornish Rebel (11st 10lb), winner of the Unicoin Homes Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in January, and L'Aventure (10st 4lb) who was fourth and fifth in the last two renewals of the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup.

The Francois Doumen-trained Kelami was a close second in the Agfa Diamond Chase last time, while Venetia Williams has Welsh National runner-up Mon Mome and The Outlier, victor of the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase earlier this season at Haydock.

Other notables include Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup third Preacher Boy, the David Pipe-trained Lttle Brick, totesport Becher Chase runner-up Bewleys Berry, Kandjar d'Allier, Cloudy Lane, Wild Cane Ridge, Leading Man, Philson Run and Naunton Brook.