Monday 21 July 2014 16:16, UK
Royal Ascot hero Pique Sous is being lined up for an audacious and lucrative double after connections confirmed the dashing grey is set to line up in both next week's Galway Hurdle and the Betfred Ebor at York next month.
Royal Ascot hero Pique Sous is being lined up for an audacious and lucrative double after connections confirmed the dashing grey is set to line up in both next week's Galway Hurdle and the Betfred Ebor at York next month.
The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old landed the Queen Alexandra Stakes under Ryan Moore in Berkshire last month and is set to revert to the jumping game at Ballybrit next week before a trip to the Knavesmire on August 23.
Steve Massey, racing manager for owners the Supreme Horse Racing Club, said: "I've spoken to Willie this morning and the plan is to go for the Galway Hurdle and then run in the Ebor, as long as the ground is right.
"It's very exciting to have a horse who is favourite for the richest handicap hurdle in Europe and the richest Flat handicap in Europe. We're aiming to pick up around £400,000 in prize-money in a little over three weeks!
"We wouldn't even be considering running over hurdles if it wasn't for the prize-money, but we think he's well treated over hurdles and he's in great form at the moment, so we're keen to give it a go.
"Paul Townend schooled him over hurdles this morning and everything went well, so we're just hoping this dry spell continues and he stays sound."
With a hurdle rating of 137 Pique Sous is currently set to carry 10st 8lb in the 150,000 euro contest on Thursday week, following the publication of the weights.
The top of the weights are dominated by British raiders with John Ferguson's Purple Bay, a runaway winner of Saturday's Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen, heading the field on 11st 10lb.
Ferguson also has Parlour Games (10st 12lb), Bordoni (10st 8lb) and Dubai Prince (10st 5lb) among a numerically strong team.
Charlie Longsdon's Vulcanite is second on the list with a burden of 11st 6lb, with Alan King's Montbazon (11st 2lb) and the Seamus Mullins-trained Fergal (11st) all on 11st or above.
Other contenders include Gordon Elliott's Bayan (10st 12lb), Tony Martin's Quick Jack (9st 10lb) and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Plinth (10st 5lb).
