Tidal Bay reappears on November 4 at Exeter Last season's Arkle Chase winner Tidal Bay is due to begin his campaign at Exeter after trainer Howard Johnson revealed he was aiming the horse at the William Hill Gold Cup. Johnson plans to give his charge two runs at around 2m, starting at Exeter on November 4 and followed by Sandown's Seasons Holidays Tingle Creek Chase, before deciding whether to continue with a Queen Mother Champion Chase programme or step him up to longer distances. Tidal Bay won five of his six starts over fences last season at trips up to 2m5f and was being considered for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase before Johnson settled on the Arkle at Cheltenham, followed by the Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree, both of which he won. He features in the betting for both this season's Champion Chase and Gold Cup. "We'll start him before the Tingle Creek, and he may go for the Haldon Gold Cup ," said Johnson. "That's where Direct Route ran. Then he'll head for the Tingle Creek, if he runs well down there. If we think he needs upping in trip, we'll up him. "He looks a picture. He's a month off a run, which is where I want him. "We'll start having a few runners this next week, then we'llsee how forward we are. We've just been held up by the weather. They're all looking well, they're coming. "Denis O'Regan will be finished in Ireland after Listowel, and I want him back all the time."
