Pillar on agenda for Marlborough

Marlborough could make his belated reappearance against two of the top three in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup betting in Saturday week`s Pillar Property Chase, it emerged today.

Sir Robert Ogden`s gelding may take on Sackville and Lord Noelie in the Grade Two Cheltenham contest on his first outing since he landed the Tote Gold Trophy Chase at Sandown last April.

The Aon Chase at Newbury had been mentioned as a target for the Nicky Henderson-trained 10-year-old, whose return to action this term has been delayed by a trapped epiglottis.

But his owner`s racing manager Barry Simpson said: 'Marlborough is being prepared for the Pillar Property Chase.

'We`re like all of the other people with Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup possibles - they`re either saying that they`ll run in the Pillar Property Chase or Newbury`s Aon Chase.

'We`ll say the same thing but quite honestly I said to Nicky the other day that you`ve got to be prepared for the Pillar because if either race is lost through the weather you`ve got to run somewhere.

'I`m not saying that Cheltenham is the intention without changing our mind but we will be ready to run in the Pillar Property Chase.

'He worked extremely well on Saturday as well in a routine piece of work. We`re very pleased with him and looking forward to getting him back on a racecourse.

'His next race is a trial and his objective is the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.'

Henrietta Knight`s Lord Noelie is being aimed at the Pillar, which could also be a target for King George VI Chase third Bacchanal.

Simon Marsh, racing manager to the latter`s owner Lady Lloyd Webber, and also a member of the syndicate which owns Rowalnd Meyrick Chase winner Behrajan, said: 'We don`t know yet if Bacchanal will go for the Pillar Property Chase or the Aon Chase.

'The same goes for Behrajan, who also has a third option of the Hennessy at Leopardstown - to which there is a fair possibility that he`ll go.'

Coral Gold Cup betting: 6-1 Sackville, 7-1 Best Mate, 8-1 Bacchanal, Lord Noelie, 10-1 Shooting Light, 11-1 Looks Like Trouble, 12-1 Behrajan, First Gold, Florida Pearl, Marlborough.