Fry weighing up Gidleigh Park options

Harry Fry is considering a drop back in trip and a tilt at Ascot’s Clarence House Chase with stable star Gidleigh Park.

The seven-year-old was an all-the-way winner of the Grade Two Lightning Novices’ Chase at Windsor over two miles last season, since when he has finished second in a Grade One at Aintree over two and a half in April and in the Grade Two 1965 Chase over two miles and five furlongs on his Ascot reappearance last month.

While no match for leading King George contender Jango Baie on his most recent outing, Gidleigh Park was a long way clear of the remainder and Fry is now considering a couple of January options over different distances.

He said: “He is all good, we’re just trying to decide whether we go to Kempton for the Silviniaco Conti over two and a half on January 10 or be brave and run him over the trip I should have run him over last time in the Clarence House the following week.

“We’re aiming at the first part of January, we’ll probably enter him for both and make a decision nearer the time.”

With the benefit of hindsight Fry admits he wishes he had run Gidleigh Park over a shorter trip on the 1965 Chase undercard, adding:” I’m kicking myself for not running him in the Hurst Park because I think he would have won well that day. If he’d done what I thought he could have done in the Hurst Park then we’d absolutely be going for the Clarence House.

“We just need to see what else is about, but he was impressive over two miles at Windsor last season and it’s a nice decision to have to make.”