Jefferson’s Cape Tribulation set for French crusade

It is a bold plan driven by both ambition – and necessity. The prize money for Sunday’s race in Auteuil is considerable, it exceeds the amounts on offer at many of Britain’s showcase meetings, and ground conditions should suit.

Yet, because Cape Tribulation’s handicap mark means he will be compelled to take on the record-breaking Big Buck’s if he sticks to hurdles later this year, the Malton trainer hopes his stable star can replicate the form that saw him finish second in Wetherby’s Towton Novices’ Chase in February last year.

The Charlie Hall Chase, Wetherby’s richest meeting of the year, could be a comeback target at the end of October.

Sixth on the Flat at York’s Dante meeting, the biggest threats in France are likely to hail from the Willie Mullins yard in Ireland – his entries include last year’s winner Thousand Stars, who won at Auteuil last month under Paul Townend.

“He’s an intended runner at the moment. He looks great and he’s in great form,” said Jefferson of his equine all-rounder.

“He ran well enough at York, but I think it would have been better for him if it had been a week earlier as he would have preferred softer ground. I also think he’s a horse who is better for knowing and if Jimmy (Fortune) had ridden him before he might run a bit better.

“I think the ground is soft to heavy in France, so he’ll be happy enough on that. We’ll give it a go and then after Sunday he’ll have a break.”

Jefferson is also considering sending his charge back over fences later in the year.

“With his rating over hurdles, he’d end up running up the backside of Big Buck’s and I don’t see much point in doing that,” said the trainer. “He could start off in something like the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby as there won’t be many runners.”

Jefferson was speaking ahead of Wetherby’s final meeting of its 2011-12 campaign.

Perhaps the most intriguing entry is Pigeon Island who lines up in the handicap chase, the evening’s feature.

This was the horse who won the Grand Annual Chase at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival on an unforgettable afternoon for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, who also saddled Imperial Commander to win the Gold Cup and Baby Run to land the Foxhunters for his teenage son Sam.

It is Twiston-Davies junior, now one of the very best jump jockeys in Britain despite being just 19 years of age, who will be in the saddle tonight.

Victory for Pigeon Island would offer the Twiston-Davies family some consolation after the venerable 14-year-old Hello Bud, who has lined-up in the last three Grand Nationals, narrowly failed to defy top weight in the veterans’ chase at Cartmel yesterday, a race won by Sea Saffron. Another crack at the Becher Chase at his beloved Aintree, which he won in such spectacular style in 2010, could beckon.

Few jockeys have a better win percentage than Malton-born Andrew Tinkler who rides Seacroft-based Richard Whitaker’s Woodacre in the concluding Bumper.

The horse has finished second on both of his previous starts.

Tonight’s meeting, and tomorrow’s fixture at Doncaster, also feature a special Diamond Jubilee exhibition depicting the Queen’s love affair with horse racing.

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