Northern star Definitly Red overpriced for Gold Cup says owner Phil Martin

Owner Phil Martin believes the north's sole Gold Cup hope Definitly Red is overpriced for what could prove a wide-open running of the Cheltenham Festival showpiece.

The Brian Ellison-trained Definitly Red was on Wednesday among 43 entries – including a record 24 Irish-trained horses and the highest total number for 12 years – for the Magners-backed highlight last won by the north in 1993 with the Peter Beaumont-trained Jodami.

Placings have followed with Jodami finishing runner-up to The Fellow the subsequent year, Truckers Tavern securing second behind Best Mate in 2003 and Turpin Green finishing third four years later, but Definitly Red ended a three-year spell without a single northern representative in the race when sixth last season.

Definitly Red has landed four-runner renewals of the Charlie Hall Chase and Many Clouds Chase this campaign and is 33-1 to win the Gold Cup with Betfred, BoyleSports and William Hill, with the market headed by RSA Novices’ Chase scorer Presenting Percy, who has yet to return this season and is a best-priced 9-2.

Martin, who has owned horses with wife Julie for 15 years and will be seeking his first Cheltenham Festival winner, said: “Definitly Red is a little overpriced. When you look at the competitors from this side of the water, there’s only really Clan Des Obeaux who has improved and done something you thought he wouldn’t do.

“The rest of them, including last year’s winner Native River, have disappointed in my opinion. Definitly Red has got to step up on what he did last year by some way but hopefully he’ll be competitive.

“He’s been a fantastic horse to own and I wish I had another three or four like him. I’ve owned upwards of 200 and he’d be by some way the best.

“It’s every owner’s dream to have a Cheltenham Festival winner, but to own the Gold Cup winner would be unbelievable. We can all dream and that is what the game is about.”

A different approach is being taken with Definitly Red, who will head straight to the Gold Cup, having last year landed the Cotswold Chase at the track in January

Connections feel testing ground was against the ten-year-old in the Gold Cup, in which he finished 39 lengths behind Native River.

Martin, who sold his shares in an oil business around ten years ago, said: “We felt he had a hard race when winning the Cotswold Chase last year and it may have left its mark for the Gold Cup.

“Realistically this will be his last chance of going for the Gold Cup and we thought giving him a bit of a break would give him every chance to do his best.

“He’s got a great record fresh and he’s earned his right to be there.”

Best fresh

The record of Definitly Red after a 50+ day break

66 days – 1st Uttoxeter bumper, December 31, 2013
249 days – 1st Cheltenham Listed bumper, November 16, 2014
253 days – 2nd Haydock G3 hcp hurdle, November 21, 2015
198 days – 1st Carlisle hcp hurdle, October 30, 2016
210 days – 3rd Wetherby G2 Charlie Hall Chase, November 4, 2017
205 days – 1st Wetherby G2 Charlie Hall Chase, November 3, 2018

If lining up in the Gold Cup in March, 97 days will have passed since Definitly Red won the Many Clouds at Aintree.

Ellison feels better ground would suit the son of Definite Article, who is a six-time winner at Graded level.

The Norton trainer said: “Definitly Red is in really good fettle and I’ll send him for a couple of racecourse gallops.

“He’s rated 164 but I thought he ran better than his mark when beating Double Shuffle at Aintree.

“The ground on Gold Cup day was too deep for him last year. Perhaps it will be different this year – it’s certainly rare in January to see ‘good to firm’ in going descriptions at some tracks like we’ve got this week.”

Willie Mullins is the trainer with most entries and is responsible for nine of the 24-strong Irish contingent, including Grade 1 chase winners Kemboy, Al Boum Photo and Bellshill.

Shattered Love and Don Poli are among seven entries for Gordon Elliott, last year’s fourth Road To Respect is one of three possible candidates for Noel Meade, while 2017 hero Sizing John is a sole entry for Jessica Harrington.

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