Pitman expecting big show from Dempsey
Queen Mother Champion Chase hopeful Dempsey is in great form ahead of his tilt at the two-mile championship next month.
The Mark Pitman-trained eight-year-old, a general 33-1 chance for the Cheltenham feature, has improved through the handicap ranks this term and produced a career-best effort latest when second in the Victor Chandler Chase under top weight.
And with the Queen Mother having a more open look to it this year, Pitman believes his charge goes there with every chance.
“We are very happy with Dempsey and it is all systems go for Cheltenham, we are very pleased with the horse,” said Pitman.
“It looks an open year to me with the likes of Azertyuiop and Well Chief missing, certainly more open than in the past.
“Yes, we have a few question marks to answer such as will he handle the track, but we think he probably will. He will definitely take his chance.
“I don’t think he got the credit he deserved for his last run in the Victor Chandler. The time of the race was the only one of the day to be fast – it was fast by over a second. All the other races were slow by seven or eight seconds.
“I think that underlines the quality of his run with a big weight. He was a fraction keen that day, but they won’t hang about in the Queen Mother so that won’t be a problem. He is in great shape.”
