Time For Rupert reignited his Cheltenham Gold Cup dream by opening his account for the campaign in the Graduation Chase at Newbury.
Paul Webber’s stable star was ranked with the best staying novice chasers around last season and a comeback second in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby suggested another profitable campaign was in store.
He failed to make an impact behind the likes of Kauto Star and Long Run in last month’s Betfair Chase at Haydock but taking a significant drop in grade, the 8-15 favourite produced a thoroughly professional display.
Ridden by Denis O’Regan for the first time, the market leader jumped accurately at the head of affairs and shook off the more than capable The Giant Bolster with a degree of ease to score by a length and three-quarters.
“What a relief. He’s a horse that will never win by further than he has to, so I have to be very pleased,” Webber said.
“We’ll go for the Argento Chase and maybe look at the Irish Hennessy as an alternative. The way he jumps Denis thinks he could be a Grand National horse, but if he goes and wins the Argento and finishes third or fourth in the Gold Cup we’d have to be happy.”
Paddy Power make Time For Rupert a 33-1 chance for the Grand National and are unchanged at 20-1 for the Gold Cup.
O’Regan, who was taking over from Will Kennedy, said: “It was very straightforward for me today. I didn’t think he’d pick up that well in the ground. I was very happy.
“He’s very exciting and I’m thrilled to have the ride on him.”
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