Batting third for most of the season, his .326 average entering play on June 28 is second among qualifying hitters in the league to his fellow infield mate and all-star Bryant
Flete, while his .416 on-base percentage ranks third.
Trainer Tony Martin is hoping the decision goes his way as he plans to run Davids Lad in the Mildmay Of
Flete Handicap Chase at Cheltenham tomorrow.
Trainer Ron Hodges is hoping that Fitzgerald - who has a record of two wins from three rides on the horse - will be available should Wayward King run in the Mildmay of
Flete.
He has scrapped plans to run John Sumner's 12-year-old in the Mildmay of
Flete Chase at Cheltenham, scene of his triumphs in the Tripleprint Gold Cup (in 1994), Mackeson Gold Cup (1995) and Ladbroke Trophy Chase (1997).
Right behind Wawoe and
Flete in the batting average category is Cosgrove, a third-year pro and first-year Miners catcher from Kirkland, Washington, who entered play on June 28 with a .316 batting average that places third in the Frontier League.
TERAO, winner of the Mildmay of
Flete Chase (now the Racing Post Plate) at the 1997 Cheltenham Festival, has died aged 20.
Henderson also revealed that Fondmort could well switch to the Mildmay of
Flete Handicap Chase from the Cathcart Chase.
Bookmakers have been betting on the number of winners Martin Pipe will saddle at Cheltenham and Majadou looks a likely scorer for the Somerset maestro in the Mildmay of
Flete (5.05).
Pipe, who is going Flat out for Cheltenham domination, confirmed he could saddle eight runners in both the Mildmay Of
Flete on Wednesday and Triumph Hurdle a day later.
Scottish challengers Sparky Gayle and Monnaie Forte were outgunned by Super Coin in the Mildmay of
Flete Chase but lost nothing in defeat.
First run as the Seven Springs Handicap Chase, the race name was switched in 1951 to the guise under which Festival racegoers have known it up until this year - the Mildmay of
Flete.