Sport

Papillon set to return with Cup

Ted Walsh's Papillon will bid to take the Murphy's Gold Cup at Cheltenham, back to Ireland on Saturday for the first time since…

Tue Nov 10 1998 - 00:00

Ted Walsh's Papillon will bid to take the Murphy's Gold Cup at Cheltenham, back to Ireland on Saturday for the first time since Bright Highway landed the race when it was known as the Mackeson Gold Cup in 1980.

Or RoyaL and last year's winner Senor El Betrutti head the declarations for which 17 entries were confirmed at yesterday's five-day stage.

Martin Pipe, responsible for Or Royal, also has the 1996 victor Challenger du Luc and the promising Cyfor Malta in the £75,000added steeplechase.

Cyfor Malta, who won at both the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals last season, is the clear antepost favourite at a best priced 9 to 4 with Ladbrokes and the Tote.

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The seven-year-old Papillon, as short as 13 to 2 with the Tote but 12 to 1 with Hills, will be ridden by trainer Walsh's son Ruby.

Papillon is no stranger to Prestbury Park having won the Ladbroke Trophy Handicap Chase at the track last season before finishing an unlucky halflength second to Bobbyjo in the Irish Grand National.

"He won at Cheltenham last January and a horse fell in front of him at the fourth in the National and knocked him back a bit," said Walsh.

"He had a run at Navan two weeks ago (second beaten one and a half lengths by Delphi Lodge) and he's OK after it."

Addington Boy, from Nicky Richards' Greystoke yard, is expected to be in the line-up.

Richards' father Gordon saddled Man Alive and Pounentes to take this prestigious prize back to Cumbria in 1979 and 1983 respectively.

"He wouldn't want it too soft and the better the ground the better he will go," Richards said of Addington Boy, a general 16 to 1 shot.

"It's his first run of the season and he might just need it but I'm still hopeful he'll run well."

Addington Boy won the Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham for the stable in December 1996.

Simply Dashing, best priced 12 to 1 with Hills, will represent Tim Easterby.

Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Dorans Pride will run in the Sean Graham Chase at Ayr on Saturday. Trainer Michael Hourigan said yesterday: "This is a slight change of plan. I had originally intended to run Dorans Pride at Punchestown in December but he is in such good form I picked on Saturday's Ayr race."