French Ace Set To Swerve Gold Bid

Francois Cottin has elected to aim his useful chaser Louping d'Ainay towards the John Smith's Grand National rather than the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The leading French trainer, who employs Dean Gallagher as his stable jockey, also ruled the grey out of next weekend's Racing Post Chase at Kempton.

'He won't run at Kempton, as we have had a change of plan,' said Cottin.

'I discussed it with the owners and we just felt carrying top-weight in the race was not a good idea ? I will probably run him now at Auteuil on March 11.

'He would therefore be very unlikely to run in the Gold Cup because of the distance between races ? that is on March 16.

'I think we will try Aintree instead. It is a long way away but we will give it a shot.'

Louping d'Ainay won the Prix du President de la Republique, or French Grand National, in 2005 under Gallagher and has been placed in some decent Graded events since.

Cottin hopes the pair can be reunited at Aintree, although his rider broke three vertebrae in his neck in a Boxing Day fall at Cagnes-sur-Mer.

'Dean is doing very well and is hoping to have got some race riding in before then,' he added.

As well as a spell at school in England, Cottin spent four years with Arthur Moore in Ireland and also married a former Irish trainer, Irene.

He could still have a runner at the Cheltenham Festival through his French Gold Cup winner Princesse d'Anjou, who beat Louping d'Ainay by five lengths in the Prix La Haye Jousselin at Auteuil in November.

Cottin said: 'I think she will stay in the forfeit stage for the Gold Cup, although I would like to maintain her position in the World Hurdle.

'We will have to see. She is very tough and talented and obviously her main aim is to try to win the French Gold Cup again in May.'

? PA Sport