Press Sport
Easterby charge set for big Champion Chase challenge
10:31am Saturday 11th February 2012
Lightening Rod, denied the chance of bagging a big prize at Musselburgh’s abandoned fixture last Sunday, is set to make the journey to Scotland from North Yorkshire today to bid for the same race at the rearranged meeting in a welcome return of jump racing following a dismal ten days.
Trained at Sheriff Hutton by Mick Easterby, Lightening Rod runs in the £15,000 John Smith’s Scottish Champion Chase and will have the experienced assistance of Dominic Elsworth.
A winner at Hexham on his reappearance, the gelding then finished a creditable second to the potentially top-class Sprinter Sacre at Doncaster before unseating his rider early on on his latest outing at Catterick.
A smart horse on his day, Lightening Rod has plenty more to offer over fences. He deserves the utmost respect.
Richard Fahey is another North Yorkshire trainer with good prospects of hitting the target on this valuable card.
The Malton handler runs Ingleby Spirit in the £15,000 John Smith’s Scottish County Hurdle and Brian Hughes’ mount is fancied to go well on his handicap bow. A useful recruit to the hurdling sphere, Ingleby Spirit has won twice this season, both times on this course.
Today’s race is considerably tougher, but the five-year-old is going the right way and should do well in a competitive event.
The John Smith’s Scottish Triumph Hurdle is fancied to fall to Creekside, trained at Newmar-ket by John Ferguson, who has made a big impression this season with some talented Flat recruits from the Godolphin outfit.
Creekside made a winning debut at Catterick last month, beating Uncle Bryn in workmanlike style. Uncle Bryn, trained by John Quinn, renews rivalry on 6lb better terms this afternoon, but Creekside, who won with something to spare at Catterick, is taken to confirm his superiority.
The consistent Cross Of Honour (1.30) and Bold Sir Brian (4.20) are two others to note. Trained by Lucinda Russell, whose horses are in terrific form, Bold Sir Brian won a Grade 2 hurdle race at Kelso last season and has since developed into a useful novice chaser.
He has won his last two races and looks likely to make it three in the John Smith’s Future Champions Novices’ Chase.
Southwell stages a quickly-arranged ‘bumpers for jumpers’ extra card tomorrow to accomodate the needs of horses who continue to miss opportunities on the turf. Brian Ellison could be among those who will benefit from this BHA initiative.
The Norton trainer has treble prospects with Optimist (1.45), Abergavenny (3.20) and Sound Accord (4.25).
The former has shown enough ability in bumpers to take a hand against more staying types, while Sound Accord finished third on his latest outing at Chepstow. Easily the most interesting of the trio is Abergavenny, a former useful horse on the Flat with Mark Johnston, who has been developed into a very smart hurdler by Ellison.
He will have a Cheltenham engagement next month, but in the meantime he is napped to lift this two miles Flat event. Keith Mercer rides.
• Officials at Catterick will stage an inspection at 8am tomorrow to assess the prospects of Monday’s meeting going ahead. The North Yorkshire circuit has been frozen and partially covered in snow. Today’s racing at Newbury, Uttoxeter and Warwick was wiped out.
Racing selections
Musselburgh today
1.30 Cross Of Honour, 2.05 Creekside, 2.35 Everaard, 3.10 Lightening Rod, 3.45 Ingleby Spirit, 4.20 Bold Sir Brian, 4.50 Cape Dutch.
Today’s other meetings
Kempton, Lingfield, Wolverhampton.
Southwell tomorrow
1.15 Smadynium, 1.45 Optimist, 2.15 Vinomore, 2.45 Saveiro, 3.20 Abergavenny (NAP), 3.55 A Little Swifter, 4.25 Sound Accord.
Tomorrow’s other meetings
Hereford (11.30am inspection today), Exeter (8am inspection tomorrow).