PEDDLERS CROSS may not line-up at Haydock Park this Saturday if conditions are too testing.
Donald McCain’s stable star is due to have his third start over fences at the Merseyside track, but with the track currently heavy, he may not be risked.
Last season’s Champion Hurdle runner-up has been impressive in winning his first two starts over the bigger obstacles both at Bangor and he is currently the 4-1 favourite with Ladbrokes for the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
McCain is looking to run the six-year-old in Saturday’s in the Maxilead Metals Supports The Injured Jockeys Fund Novices’ Chase to give him more experience.
But he said: “He’s in great nick and Jason (Maguire) schooled him this morning and everything went grand.
“The intention is for him to run at the moment, but the ground is heavy and there is more rain forecast, so I couldn’t say it’s a 100% certain he’ll go.
“We want to run him but we have to think whether there is anything to be gained.
“It’s good we’ve got a couple of runs into him already. We’d like to get a third run, but we’ll just play it by ear.
“There isn’t much for him between now and Kempton at Christmas, so we’ll see.”
Haydock clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright expects the meeting to be on as long as the forecast for rain is correct.
He said: “The ground is heavy but we’re fit to race at the moment.
“There is plenty of rain forecast for this week but as long as we don’t get biblical proportions, hopefully we’ll be all right. I don’t think we have any frost worries – it’s the rain that looks the challenge. I’d be quietly confident we’ll be racing.”
Haydock host a six-race card with the first race off a 12.40pm and the last at 3.20pm. The feature of the day is Maxileads Metals Tommy Whittle Chase which has attracted 21 entries at the five-day stage including McCain’s trio Fabalu, Wymott and Across The Bay as well as the Malcolm Jefferson-trained Cape Tribulation.
Meanwhile ante-post favourite Prospect Wells heads a field of 21 confirmed forSaturday’s Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Ascot.
The Graham Wylie-owned novice, trained by Paul Nicholls has won two of his three starts over hurdles and is currently a best-priced 9-2 chance with bet365.
The champion trainer also hasthe top weight Brampour and Tonic Mellysse entered.
McCain could also send recent Haydock winner Desert Cry, part-owned by Everton FC manager David Moyes, to Ascot, while Nicky Henderson has left in Gibb River and Rajdhani Express.
Alan King said his Raya Star is in fine fettle ahead of Saturday’s prestigious handicap.
The Barbury Castle trainer said: “We’ve left him in and the intention is for him to run, all being well between now and the weekend.
“He’s in good form and he ran well at Newbury last time – that was probably his best run.”
Tom George was forced to withdraw Olofi after the Greatwood Hurdle runner-up scoped dirty, while also missing is Philip Hobbs’ Featherbed Lane, a winner at Aintree at the start of the month. He holds an alternative engagement at Haydock.
TODAY’S NAP: Ballyoliver (3.10pm Folkestone).
