Racing: Whitbread spring target for Cogent

COGENT, last November's Hennessy Gold Cup winner, may attempt to end his season with victory in the Whitbread Gold Cup at Sandown in April.

Jeremy Glover, who recently took over the training of the 10- year-old chaser from Andy Turnell, said yesterday that Cogent had returned home unscathed after finishing 10th to Antonin in the Racing Post Chase on Saturday.

Cogent faded after setting the pace until the 15th fence in the holding ground at Kempton. It was his first race since his Hennessy win on good going. 'He needed Saturday's race quite badly,' Glover said. 'His next target could be the Whitbread.'

Pat Eddery and Michael Kinane will represent Europe in the International Jockeys Challenge in Dubai on 25 March. Teams from the USA, Australia, Asia and the United Arab Emirates are also taking part.