Highland Chief (Ire) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Highland Chief (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), a homebred for Mrs. Fitri Hay, is pointing toward the Sept. 13 G1 Prix de Paris, co-trainer Oliver Cole announced on Monday. Second in the G3 Gordon S. at Goodwood on July 30 and second again-this time in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. at York on Aug. 19-the bay will be supplemented to the French Classic, rather than taking on Great Voltigeur winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {GB}) again.

“The plan is to go to the Grand Prix de Paris with him,” said Cole. “You can never say not, but I doubt it [of a start in the St Leger]. If Pyledriver is probably going to the St Leger, it’s probably best for us to go to Paris. We’re going to have to supplement him–he’s not in at the moment. We’ll have to prepare him again to see if he’s on song for the day, but it’s a pencilled-in plan anyway.”

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Ben Curtis has been handed a first G1 Investec Derby ride on Royal Ascot winner Highland Chief (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}). Trained by Paul and Oliver Cole, the colt was ridden to victory at Ascot by Rossa Ryan but was due to be partnered by Andrea Atzeni at Epsom. However, with Atzeni claimed to ride David Simcock’s Mohican Heights (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Curtis has been called up after a brilliant start to the season.

“Andrea didn’t foresee that he had to ride for someone else and he’s got to ride for some Hong Kong owners for David Simcock,” Oliver Cole told Sky Sports Racing. “So, we got Ben Curtis this morning. He’s had 96 winners this year–two Group 3 winners, including a Royal Ascot winner. He’s really riding well, with confidence, so we thought he would be perfect.”

Of the horse, Cole added, “I wouldn’t say he’s improving all the time, he’s always been a good horse. He was third to Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) in the Chesham last season and would have been closer with a clear run. In the Royal Lodge we don’t know why he ran so badly, his tail was sticking out quite high.

“We went into Ascot quietly confident, although he had top weight, but he made up lots of ground and did it well. He should stay, but you never know until they run.”

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