Kim Bailey weighing up options for Chianti Classico
Chianti Classico and jockey Tom Bellamy
Chianti Classico's impressive victory in the Sodexo Live! Gold Cup at Ascot on Saturday has given trainer Kim Bailey plenty to think about, with ground conditions playing a crucial factor.
The Ultima Handicap Chase winner, carrying the welter burden of 12st, completed an authoritative victory on his first appearance since finishing fourth in Grade One novice company at Aintree in April.
No Bailey has a range of options of where next for the Cheltenham hero, including a first run over the Grand National fences in the Becher Chase or going for Grade One glory in the Betfair Chase.
Bailey said: “I hoped he might go and do that, but it was a very good performance. He had his first canter (since) this morning and seems fine.
“There are all sorts of options and we’re playing it by ear really. We’ll see how he comes out of the race in a week or 10 days’ time and see what the weather does. The weather is a big factor as he really would prefer softer ground.
“The Coral Gold Cup (at Newbury) would be the least likely, I would have thought. There’s the Becher Chase and we’ve also put him in the Betfair Chase. If that comes up with a situation like last year, when there were only four runners, we could look at it.”
Chianti Classico has been talked up as a National contender or even a crack at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the aftermath of his Ascot success.
However, Bailey played down such plans: “He’s got another 10lb to go before he becomes that (a Gold Cup horse), that’s the difference of the game really.
“The handicapper only put him up 5lb for winning on Saturday, so we shall see.”
