ANDREW FLEMING will check on how testing conditions are at Haydock before committing Starluck to run in Saturday’s Tune Into Timeform Radio Hurdle.
The four-year-old won three times over hurdles last season and then ran well to finish fourth and third in the Triumph Hurdle and the Grade One at Aintree’s John Smith’s Grand National meeting respectively.
He made a winning reappearance at Cheltenham last month, but if conditions are too soft Fleming could re-route his four-year-old to take on the big boys in the WBX.COM ‘Fighting Fifth’ Hurdle at Newcastle a week on Saturday.
The trainer said: “He’s in at Haydock on Saturday and if the ground isn’t desperately heavy, he’ll go there rather than the Fighting Fifth. That looks the more obvious stepping stone to the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.
“We discussed going for the bonus (£1million WBX Hurdling Triple Crown) but we thought we’d wait until Kempton to take on the big boys on ground he might prefer and a track he might prefer. We were very happy with the way he did it at Cheltenham last time so we’ll keep our fingers crossed, hope Saturday goes okay, and hope we keep him right until Christmas.”
Notre Pere is set to face Kauto Star in the feature contest of the Northwest Masters weekend, the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday, after pleasing connections in a schooling session yesterday.
Last season’s Welsh National and Punchestown Gold Cup winner fell in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal earlier this month, but trainer Jim Dreaper said: “It went fine this morning, so all being well it will be Haydock on Saturday. The ground looks as though it is going to be in his favour. What happened at Down Royal was one of those things. Unfortunately it does happen, but thankfully everyone walked away in one piece, so all being well we’ll be there on Saturday.”
Notre Pere is currently a best-priced 11-4 second-favourite with Stan James and Betfred for the Grade One contest. Kauto Star is a best-priced 11-10 with Paddy Power and Sportingbet to win a third Betfair Chase.
Meanwhile Peter Bowen is hoping Souffleur can bring a change of luck for the Welsh trainer in the £100,000 Listed Timeform Betfair Racing Club “Fixed Brush” Handicap Hurdle, another potentially exciting contest on Haydock’s seven-race card this Saturday.
Irish Wolf was a close second for the Pembrokeshire-based handler in the 3m1f contest three years ago, while Special Envoy fell at the final flight when leading in 2007 handing the race to Millennium Royal.
Last year Souffleur carried top weight, but could only finish nine lengths behind winner According To Pete. The six-year-old missed the rest of last season with a leg injury but Bowen said: “Souffleur is in very good form at the moment and I think that he is getting back to his best. He should get soft ground at Haydock and he ran a blinder in last year’s race – especially considering that he came back with the heat in his leg and he was giving weight all round.
“He is going to Haydock in great shape and I am hopeful that he can run well.”
TODAY’S NAP: Set Em Up Mo (3pm Lingfield).
