Racing: Prospects darkening for the Prince

RAIN was last night threatening the chances of Egypt Mill Prince in Saturday's Tripleprint Gold Cup. Jenny Pitman's contender had been a heavily-backed favourite for the Cheltenham race but the seven-year-old's odds have begun drifting ominously.

Pitman has repeatedly warned that Saturday's distance of two miles and five furlongs would prove beyond Egypt Mill Prince's stamina limitations if the going became testing.

It rained at Cheltenham yesterday and, although the official going remained good, more wet weather was firmly forecast.

As Egypt Mill Prince drifted from 9-4 to 11-4 with Corals, 5-2 to 3-1 (Hills) and 5-2 to 11-4 (Ladbrokes) yesterday, the two latter firms made Second Schedual favourite instead.

David Nicholson confirmed yesterday that Another Coral, winner of the same event last year, will join stablemate Second Schedual in the race.

'Both horses definitely run and there are no worries about the ground,' Nicholson said. Adrian Maguire will partner Second Schedual with Warren Marston aboard Another Coral.

TRIPLEPRINT GOLD CUP: Coral: 11-4 Egypt Mill Prince (from 9-4), 3-1 Second Schedual (from 7-2), 5-1 Young Hustler (from 11-2), 8- 1 Another Coral & Zeta's Lad, 9-1 General Pershing, 16-1 bar. Hills: 11-4 Second Schedual (from 100-30), 3-1 Egypt Mill Prince (from 5-2), 9-2 Young Hustler, 10-1 Another Coral, General Pershing & Zeta's Lad, 16-1 bar. Ladbrokes: 5-2 Second Schedual (from 100-30), 11-4 Egypt Mill Prince (from 5-2), 6-1 Young Hustler (from 11-2), 7-1 Another Coral, 8-1 General Pershing, 10-1 Zeta's Lad, 14-1 bar.