Racing at all three scheduled meetings on Monday went ahead after Wolverhampton passed an 8.00am inspection and an inspection at Plumpton was cancelled. The meeting at Lingfield on Tuesday is subject to an 8.15am inspection, with rain the main concern, while the meeting at Newcastle on Wednesday is also subject to an 8.00am inspection, with the course partially covered in snow and snow showers and temperatures of minus 4 degrees Celsius expected overnight.
Market Rasen’s Thursday card is also subject to an inspection at 12 noon on Tuesday, with frost covers deployed on vulnerable areas. Frost covers have also been deployed at Ascot ahead of Saturday’s Victor Chandler Chase meeting, with frost and snow forecast between now and then.
Nicky Henderson’s 7-year-old Sprinter Sacre will face a maximum of eight opponents in the Victor Chandler Chase and is currently a top priced 1/5 for the Ascot feature. Paul Nicholls’ Sanctuaire and Henrietta Knight’s Somersby can both be backed at 7/1 and it’s 16/1 bar the front three. Rubi Light and William’s Wishes were the most notable absentees at the 5-day declaration stage.
In other entries news, the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock on Saturday received 17 entries, including Bold Sir Brian and Katenko, currently 50/1 and 66/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup respectively. The Champion Hurdle Trial, on the other hand, received just 7 entries and has been reopened until 11.00am on Tuesday. Dual Grade 1 winning hurdler Peddlers Cross is declared at Haydock, but has also been entered in the 2 mile 3 furlong hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.
On the track on Monday, Jamie Spencer rode a near 17/1 double on the David Simcock-trained, Dr. Dr Marwan Koukash-owned pair English Summer and Gabrial The Boss at Wolverhampton. However, he was upstaged by Luke Morris, who rode a quick-fire treble in the last three races, on Run It Twice for David Evans, Naru for James Tate and Hidden Link for Ronald Harris. The odds of reward for Morris’ supporters were just under 137/1.
David Pipe reported that his 6-year-old Sadler’s Well horse Flying Cross, who was trained by Aidan O’Brien in the early part of his career and subsequently by John Gosden, could go straight for the Champion Hurdle or the Neptune at the Cheltenham Festival with a preparatory run. Flying Cross, who hasn’t been seen in public since finishing 5th of 10 in a Listed race at Deauville in July 2011, is a 100/1 chance for the Champion Hurdle and 50/1 for the Neptune with William Hill. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ The New One has continued to attract support for the Neptune since his facile 16-length win on Saturday and is a top priced 5/1 favourite.
Elsewhere, Vale of Glamorgan trainer Tim Vaughan reported that his 11-year-old Beshabar was back in training ahead of a tilt at the Grand National. The former Scottish National winner has been absent since straining a tendon in the Hennessy Gold Cup just over a year ago, but is cantering now according to his trainer. He will have one or two racecourse gallops, but will head to Aintree with a preparatory race.
