Granit Jack a doubt

Shropshire horse race owner John Hales is facing an anxious wait to learn if one of his star turns makes the big racing date of the weekend.

Granit Jack was ante-post favourite for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday. But the publishing of the five-day declarations has cast doubt over whether the five-year-old will even make the cut.

With 38 runners declared, the runner-up in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at this year's Cheltenham Festival requires eight higher weighted rivals to drop out to take his place in the 20-strong field.

All of which leaves a tense week ahead for Hales who said: "Granit Jack is fine. He's absolutely flying at home in training and we are looking forward to Saturday, but we don't know if we are in the Paddy power Gold Cup or not.

"He's never run over fences in England. He is one of those that we bought from France as a novice chaser where he won four out of five.

"He came second in the Supreme Novices' and our long-term aim is obviously the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

"We want to be in the Paddy Power but whether we will be or not we don't know."

Uncertainty over Granit Jack's participation has seen him drift out to 5-1 in the betting, while he has also been given an alternative engagement in a two-mile chase at Cheltenham on Saturday.

By James Garrison