Looks Like Trouble is poised to make sensational appearance at Royal Ascotnext week after making a successful comeback in a charity race at Newbury today. The 11-year-old gelding, who was retired from racing after finishing injured in last year's Gold Cup, has only been back with trainer Noel Chance since the end of March after spending time recuperating.
But he showed in emphatic style that he can still gallop with the best of themas he pulverised his rivals under former jumps jockey Brendan Powell. The Vodafone-sponsored race raised money for the Spinal Injuries Association, a cause dear to the heart of many in racing.
Looks Like Trouble enjoyed his finest hour in the 2000 Cheltenham Gold Cup, where he beat Florida Pearl by five lengths. But leg problems flared up which forced him on to the sidelines for the whole of 2001 and which ultimately caused his jumping career to come to a halt. "It's only when he is jumping that he is really putting pressure on the leg and that's why I was happy to let him race again on the Flat," said Chance.
"We will have to hope that he is okay in the morning but if he is then we will have to look at going for something else. There is a race at Warwick over two miles and two furlongs which they have framed especially for him next month. But there has got to be a temptation to go for the Queen Alexandra at Ascot next week now."
The Queen Alexandra Stakes, run over two miles, six furlongs and 34 yards, is the longest Flat race staged in Britain and would clearly suit the proven stamina of Looks Like Trouble. It is now the very last race of the meeting on Saturday and it would surely be a stirring finale to proceedings if Looks Like Trouble was to make a fairytale visit there.
"Fast ground is no problem for him," Chance went on. "He won the SunAlliance on good to firm. He wasn't really wound up for today and he is still a bit tubby but he hasn't been back for long and this run can only have done him good. We'll just have to see but it could be a great bit of `craic' to take him to Ascot. Being a Flat trainer seems pretty easy so far!"
Powell was delighted to have had the opportunity to ride Looks Like Trouble. "I know it was only a charity race but you couldn't ask for any more and he certainly wasn't stopping," he said. "If anything, he could have done with a bit more company early on but nothing could keep up with him once he got going."
The last horse to win at both Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival was the David Elsworth-trained Highlin, who took the Triumph Hurdle and the Ascot Stakes in 1980.
Filed by Brendan Cole
