MALCOLM JEFFERSON is still mulling over whether to run the talented Cape Tribulation in Saturday’s Maxilead Metals Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock Park.
The highly-regarded seven-year-old has only won once over fences but made a pleasing seasonal return at the Merseyside track last month, when fifth to Dynaste in the competitive ’Fixed Brush’ hurdle race.
Cape Tribulation would have to carry top weight of 11st12lb if he lines up in Saturday’s feature race and although he has won in the testing conditions that will prevail at the weekend, Jefferson is uncertain whether to let him take his chance.
He said: “I’m not sure what we’re going to do yet. I want to see what’s going to run and what way the ground is going.
“It’s a bad forecast and we’ll just see how it’s shaping up later in the week.
“He ran very well in the good race over hurdles at Haydock last time and it was won in a good time. We maybe ended up a bit too far back and he had a lot of ground to make up, but he ran well.
“We know our horse is better on softer ground, so we’ll see.”
Meanwhile Weird Al will not run in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Trainer Donald McCain has decided not to run his star chaser and give him a break with a spring campaign in mind.
The eight-year-old gelding won the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and was an excellent third behind Kauto Star and Long Run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.
But he won’t line up against those two big guns again until the New Year.
McCain said: “He’s fine – there are no issues – we only left him in for another stage (of the King George) as a precaution.
“We’d planned all along to wait and sit tight with him until the spring.”
Captain Chris, though, is on course for the Kempton feature.
Philip Hobbs’ seven-year-old, who was runner-up in last season’s Arkle Chase at Cheltenham, unseated Richard Johnson on his seasonal return in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, although at he stayed on his feet he may have won the race.
He is a best-priced 8-1 fourth favourite with Ladbrokes and William Hill for the King George behind the big guns of Long Run, Kauto Star and Master Minded.
And Johnson said: “He schooled this morning and he felt very well.
“Philip has been very happy with him the last week or so.
“The aim is the King George – but things have to go right between now and then.
“It’s a very, very strong race, but we think he’s very good and up to that.”
Hobbs added: “He worked well yesterday and schooled very nicely this morning. As long as things stay as they are he’ll definitely run at Kempton.”
Last year’s winner and Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Long Run will also bid to defend his crown.
In-form trainer Nicky Henderson, speaking at Newbury yesterday, said: “He had a good session with Yogi (Breisner) this morning and Sam (Waley-Cohen) was on board.”
TODAY’S NAP: Queen of Mantua (3.40pm Towcester).
