CARL LLEWELLYN is concerned about the conditions at Haydock as Imperial Commander makes his seasonal return Saturday’s Betfair Chase.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained eight-year-old landed both the Paddy Power Gold Cup and Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last season, but disappointed well pulled up on similarly testing ground at Punchestown in April.
Twiston-Davies’s assistant Llewellyn believes the stable is in fine form and providing conditions are not too testing at Haydock he expects Imperial Commander, who is 10-1 chance with Victor Chandler for the Grade One contest, to go well.
Llewellyn said: “It’s obviously a very hot race but he’s is in good form at the moment and it’s encour-aging that all the horses seem to be running well.
“The ground looks like it’s going to be very soft, which is a bit of a worry for us, but it probably isn’t ideal for Kauto Star either.
“With the way the ground is going to be, you would have to think it will suit the Irish horse (Notre Pere) but Imperial Commander is ready to go and has a very good record first time out.”
Despite rain hitting the region over the past week – and more expected over teh next few days – officials at Haydock expect Saturday’s Betfair Chase meeting to go ahead.
While it will be testing ground clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright said: “We had 20 millimetres of rain on the gauge this morning but it’s dry at the moment. We are soft, heavy in places but because we are able to offer fresh ground, the ground is going to be able to take it.
“It would be different if we were racing in January or February but I am confident we will race on Saturday. There are bits and pieces of rain on Thursday and Friday, but Saturday looks like a wet day.”
Meanwhile Paul Webber expects Time For Rupert to run in the Coral Ascot Hurdle on Saturday instead of the Grade Two over the Listed Timeform Betfair Racing Club ‘Fixed Brush’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock. He said: “We are worried about the state of the ground at Haydock and having to go over three miles and one first time out. At the moment we’re looking at Ascot.”
