Trabolgan Has Haydock Option Nicky Henderson is considering pitching Trabolgan against the likes of Kicking King and Best Mate in the £150,000 Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 19. Any horse winning the new race at the Merseyside track, followed by the Stan James King George VI Chase at Sandown on Boxing Day and the totesport Gold Cup at Cheltenham will scoop a #1 million bonus. The Trevor Hemmings-owned Trabolgan developed into one of the top staying novices last season and rounded off his campaign with an impressive victory in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. On that occasion Trabolgan jumped accurately for Mick Fitzgerald, beating Comply Or Die by three lengths and earning a general quote of 20-1 for the Gold Cup next March. 'He is looking very well this year. He is physically stronger and has been well prepared,' Henderson told At The Races. 'The big dilemma is always the same with novices when they step out into the big wide world as to what route to take. 'He is the one we are going to have to think about because of the big bonus which starts in the race at Haydock. It is going to be very tempting for the top chasers to go that way. 'You hope he is going to get to that level but it´s very hard to go in there first time. 'I´ve only discussed it with Trevor Hemmings briefly so far. It´s either really starting off there - and Trevor loves Haydock as well - or the alternative route is to start with an intermediate (chase) and then look at the King George, which is going to be at Sandown this year, and that ought to suit him.'(C) PA Sport
