Capodanno will don McManus green and gold in the Betfair Chase
10 of the best for owner JP McManus
Having only been added as a supplementary entry to the field on Monday, it’s now confirmed he’ll make the trip to Merseyside from Ireland.
Cheltenham Festival Ryanair Chase winner Capodanno also claimed the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January, but he did fall well short in the Grand National.
Nevertheless, he will become the first runner in the race for Willie Mullins.
“Willie is happy with him and our other horse has had a bad scope and is not running, so we decided we’d let him take his chance,” said Frank Berry, McManus' racing manager.
“Corbetts Cross had a bad scope on Saturday morning and he isn’t fit to travel, it just all came too quick.
“Everybody was very happy with Capodanno and the John Durkan looks like it’s going to be a very hot race on Sunday so he’ll take his chance at Haydock on Saturday instead.”
With Gold Tweet leading the charge, French trainer Gabriel Leenders is hoping for more success on British soil.
The gelding won the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2023 and last weekend, when Sweet David claimed the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase, he was given another taste of away day glory.
“Everything is very good with him, he’s been prepared for this race and it is his target,” said Leenders.
“We’re really happy with him and looking forward to bringing him over, he’s been in good form at home.
“All the lights are green now for the race.”
Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning is also among those confirmed.
Skelton is pleased with the condition of his horse, who hasn't been seen since placing third at the Grand National in April.
“Grey Dawning has been for a racecourse gallop and he did very well. Obviously, the last two seasons he got beaten on his seasonal debut – over hurdles and in a novice chase. His record shows there is a bit of a patch first time out, but the reason for that is that we had been very easy on him in the early part of the season for those races. When they are novices, they are always going to improve.
“This is a totally different kettle of fish. He needs to be ready against more seasoned horses and dare I say it, better horses, first time up. That is why we have put an awful lot of effort into getting him as ready as we can. I fully believe he is as ready as he can be.
“He is quite a light-framed horse and you’d call him a little tubular – not a deep-girthed old-fashioned National Hunt chaser at all. But he’s a real athlete and looks fantastic He never carries a lot of weight and when you see him on Saturday you’ll say he does look ready.”
