Hales bullish about Gold Cup contender Protektorat Leading owner John Hales, who owns Protektorat in partnership with among others former Manchester United gaffer Sir Alex Ferguson, is looking forward to seeing last year’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup third run in Saturday’s Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham which has attracted 11 entries. After that fine Gold Cup effort, Dan Skelton’s stable star could only muster a fourth in the Aintree Bowl before wind surgery seemed to work the oracle and he returned with an imperious performance in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November, when he was 11 lengths too powerful for Eldorado Allen with Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard pulling up before the third last. Hales told @pphorseracing: “Protektorat was very impressive when the current Gold Cup holder probably wasn’t so impressive and I don’t think we’ve found out what happened to him on the day. “But our horse could have beaten anyone that day as he was in top form and when he accelerated, he won going away. “Dan’s looked after him and is absolutely delighted with him — he volunteered that the other day — and we’re looking for a very good run in the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase which is an ideal run before the Gold Cup although the most important thing is that he comes home safe and well.” Hales, who is joint leading owner in the Queen Mother Champion Chase with three victories courtesy of One Man, Azertyuiop and Politologue, but has never landed the Blue Riband, believes that this contest falls in an ideal place in the racing calendar for Protektorat, who has been installed as 13-8 joint-favourite together with Noble Yeats with the sponsors for Saturday’s showdown. “We didn’t consider other races for him after Haydock — this was the plan after the way that he won there and the timing is perfect. That’s the great thing about this race if you’re going to go on to The Festival. “It looks a proper trial for the Gold Cup and that’s what we want — I’ll be at Cheltenham and I’m looking forward to it. “All being well we’ll hopefully go for the Gold Cup after this race if he’s there or thereabouts, but it would be nice to win on Saturday.” The eight-year-old is a 9-1 chance with Paddy Power for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, while Noble Yeats, a possible Irish-trained rival, is 7-1 second favourite for the same championship event. The rearranged Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase is also being run on Saturday’s card at Prestbury Park with reigning Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Energumene a warm 1-2 favourite, while young pretender and Arkle scorer Edwardstone is available at 7-4. Paddy Power Cotswold Chase Paddy Power: 13-8 Noble Yeats, Protektorat, 9-2 Frodon, 5 Ahoy Senor, 8 Dusart, Sounds Russian, 14 Corach Rambler, 16 Happygolucky, 20 Sam Brown, 33 Coole Cody, 100 Cape Gentleman Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Paddy Power: 6-4 Galopin Des Champs, 7 Noble Yeats, 8 A Plus Tard, Stattler, 9 Bravemansgame, Protektorat, 12 Conflated, 20 Hewick, Minella Indo, 33 Capodanno, Royale Pagaille, Shishkin, 40 Monkfish, 50 bar Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase Paddy Power: 1-2 Energumene, 7-4 Edwardstone, 6 Editeur Du Gite, 20 Funambule Sivola, 33 Amarillo Sky, 66 Sizing Pottsie
