Hungry owner shells out for Cheltenham ambition

Remember the talented but clumsy Carvill's Hill, who was backed to win a fortune in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1992? Now his owner is about to re-enter the arena with hopes of lifting two races at next month's Festival.

Owner Paul Green's immediate hopes of winning a Gold Cup rest with Unsinkable Boxer, but long-term he has invested heavily in the prospects of Hors La Loi III, the four-year-old hurdler he is understood to have purchased out of the yard of French trainer Francois Doumen.

The deal must run to a significant six-figure amount, which is an awful lot to pay for a jumper, or anything that races exclusively under National Hunt rules.

Jersey-based Green has long held ambitions to win the Gold Cup. Carvill's Hill, the horse he bought out of Jim Dreaper's stable and sent to Martin Pipe, started even-money favourite when trailing in last of five finishers in the controversial 1992 Gold Cup, won by Cool Ground.

Like Carvill's Hill, Hors La Loi III is to be trained by Pipe, who also prepared the latter's brother Cyborgo to win the 1996 Stayers' Hurdle. The Triumph Hurdle is to be Hors La Loi III's Festival target - he is 5-1 favourite with Corals - but with commercial diplomacy, Pipe said last night: 'I still haven't got the horse yet, so I cannot confirm ownership details.' Falls are one of the unfortunate hazards of the jumping game but even hardened regulars could not have prepared themselves for the tragic consequences of Tuesday's Alphameric Red Onion Novices' Chase at Sedgefield when three horses were killed in what amounted to an equine head-on collision.

Royal Scimitar, Skane River and Floss The Boss all lost their lives in the horrific race smash. Jockey Lorcan Wyer, who partnered Royal Scimitar, was taken to hospital. But in theory it could have been a lot worse.