Planet of Sound Unsound and Likely to Miss Gold Cup

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Pete South

Planet of Sound will likely miss the Gold Cup.

It looks as though there is bad news for fans of the Philip Hobbs-trained Planet of Sound, a lively outsider for next week’s feature Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, following the news that the talented gelding is suffering from an infection and is 95% certain not to be fit in time to take his chance in steeplechasing’s showcase event, writes Elliot Slater.

A downbeat Hobbs reported that the Kayf Tara gelding, (last seen when finishing fifth to Long Run in the King George VI Chase at Kempton in January having been a decent third to Imperial Commander and Tidal Bay in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November on his previous start this term), is suffering from an infection in his hind leg and is undergoing treatment with antibiotics. The Minehead handler advised that time is running out to have the horse fit enough to take his chance next Friday as he is unable to put very much weight at all on the infected leg.

Generally on offer at 33/1 in the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting, Planet of Sound is a quality three-miler as he showed in spring of last year when putting up probably his best ever career effort to land the Grade 1 Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup, beating old warrior War of Attrition with hot favourite Denman only fourth. That level of form would certainly entitle the winner of six of his 19 career starts to respect in the Cheltenham line-up, along with his win the previous term in Exeter’s Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup, a victory that confirmed him as a horse to follow.

Last year’s Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander remains a solid 7/2 favourite for this year’s renewal, Long Run can be backed at 11/2, dual champion Kauto Star is in to 6/1, whilst the 2008 winner Denman is a 7/1 shot. Ireland’s Kempes is currently quoted best of the rest at 12/1.

Meanwhile, the Grand National betting prices suggest the race is set to be as tight as ever this year.

Although The Midnight Club is favorite at 11/1, there are currently seven horses just behind him at 14/1.