PHILIP HOBBS may use Haydock Park as a stepping stone to the John Smith’s Grand National for Monkerhostin.
The 11-year-old, who won last season’s Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown, is heading to Merseyside this Saturday for the Peter Marsh Chase.
If all goes well this weekend and should Paul Nicholls’ Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Denman line up at Aintree, Hobbs is considering another crack at the National with Monkerhostin, who refused in the 2007 renewal when sent off the joint 7-1 co-favourite for the world’s greatest steeplechase.
Hobbs is currently away on a skiing holiday, but he confirmed Monkerhostin would run in Haydock’s three-mile Grade Two chase this Saturday.
Hobbs said: “I’ve been delighted at the way Monkerhostin has recaptured his form and he seems as good as ever.
“All being well he’ll go for the Peter Marsh and whether he then runs in the Grand National depends very much on whether Denman takes part. If Denman was to run then Monkerhostin would be my runner, but if Denman didn’t turn up I’d rely on Parsons Legacy again.”
Monkerhostin is not priced up with most firms for the National, but was 218-1 on Betfair last night.
Another likely to line up in the Peter Marsh Chase if the conditions are to his liking is Charlie Mann’s dour stayer Nadover.
Nadover was seventh to Comply Or Die in last year’s National and he is another with Aintree as his main target.
Mann said: “We took him to the Czech Republic but in hindsight he could have done with having a run before the Velka Pardubicka.
“I was really pleased with his run to come third to Garde Champetre in the cross-country race at Cheltenham before Christmas. He would have gone for the Classic Chase at Warwick, but he seems in good order.”
Mann may also run Gaora Lane in the Tim Molony Handicap Chase at Haydock on the same six-race card this Saturday.
The trainer added: “He’s a spectacular jumper who needs a Grand National fence, but he won’t get in the National this year. Sadly the Topham is not an adequate test for him, so he looks like missing out on Aintree.”
Haydock will be hoping that conditions are favourable as they look to get this Saturday’s excellent six-race card – which features four Grade Two contests – on.
One of the other Grade Two contests is the Blue Square Champion Hurdle Trial and Hobbs may run Snap Tie in a bid to boost his chances for the Cheltenham Festival itself.
The Haydock contest is one of two that are on the agenda for Champion Hurdle hope Snap Tie, who was only just beaten by Harchibald in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Hobbs said: “As long as the ground isn’t too soft, the plan is to run him at Haydock, and I would like to think he could step up from Kempton as I think he’s still got some improvement in him.
“The Champion Hurdle is very much the plan providing he maintains his current level of form, and after Haydock I could look at the totesport Gold Trophy at Newbury, even though he would have a big weight, or failing that there is the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.
“The important thing is that we find some good ground for him.”
Meanwhile, 2007 Grand National winner Silver Birch may return to action in the next couple of weeks following a leg injury.
Silver Birch has been off the track since winning at Aintree and trainer Gordon Elliott may send the 12-year-old to the Carlow Farmers point-to-point meeting at Donore on January 25.
Elliot said yesterday: “He’ll be back in the next two or three weeks and will run in a point-to-point. He might run two weeks today at the Carlow Farmers meeting but we will have to walk the track and see how it looks.”
Silver Birch is 50-1 with Stan James and BetDirect to regain his National crown on April 4.
TODAY’S NAP: Free Me Gun (4.40pm Wolverhampton).
HAYDOCK details: Haydock Park’s six-race card this Saturday features the Peter Marsh Chase and the Blue Square Champion Hurdle Trial. The first race is due off at 1.20pm with the last at 4.10pm. Admission is £34 in the Premier Suite, £23 in the County Enclosure, £15 Tattersalls and £8 Newton Enclosure £27. Accompanied children under 16 enter free. Senior citizens and students, with appropriate identification enter Tattersalls and the Newton Enclosure at half price. More details are available on the website www.haydock-park.co.uk
