Richard Guest today forecast that Thomas Pink Gold Cup fourth Red Marauder will be 'a better horse' in Saturday week`s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.
The jockey was delighted that his mount was able to finish so close at Cheltenham, after flood problems had hampered his preparation.
Guest, who also acts as assistant to the gelding`s trainer Norman Mason, is sure there is better to come in the Newbury highlight, for which Red Marauder`s price has been cut to 12-1 by Ladbrokes.
'I was very pleased with him yesterday as he hadn`t had the best of preparations, as the gallops kept getting washed away,' Guest said.
'He was very well but he had an interrupted preparation and I am sure he will be better for the run and he will be a better horse next time.
'He is in the Hennessy and if he is OK and the ground is OK he will run, and he has got 10st which would give him every chance.
'Though I wouldn`t look forward to doing 10st in some ways I would like the weights to stay down to keep some others out of the handicap.'
A bigger question mark might be the step up to three and a quarter miles, six furlongs further than the Thomas Pink.
But Guest said: 'He stayed on well yesterday, even though he blew up between the last two fences because he had missed a couple of bits of work, and I don`t think the trip will be a problem.'
