Call for trainers to strike
Nicholls has designs on his fourth Lanzarote Hurdle
CHRISTIAN LEECH yesterday called for an owners’ and trainers’ strike against poor prizemoney in Britain.
Leech, who trains in Gloucestershire with wife Sophie, believes protracted action is the only way to force tracks to raise their purse levels. “It is a case of forcing their hand,” said Leech (left), whose stable sends “about 60 per cent” of its runners to France.
“Rather than just a one-off — if trainers were to get together with the owners and decided they weren’t going to run at those racecourses, those racecourses would have to come to the table.
“They can’t continue to operate when they are not having racing.
“The only owners we get now are owners who want to race in France — we get no interest in racing in this country.”
SONIGINO is fancied to give Paul Nicholls a fourth victory in the Coral Lanzarote Hurdle (2.42) at Kempton Park this afternoon.
The seven-year-old, partowned by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, has followed a steady upward curve over timber, having won four of his last eight starts.
After making the frame at Chepstow and Cheltenham on his first two outings of the campaign, the son of It’s Gino made it third time lucky at Aintree 16 days before Christmas.
Sent off the 100-30 favourite in a field of 10, Harry Cobden’s mount didn’t let his backers down, coming home six lengths to the good of Prince Zaltar.
The handicapper has reacted with a 6lb rise in the weights to a new rating of 143, but Sonigino still has more to give and gets a confident vote to go in again.
Nicholls’ Pic D’orhy mounts a title defence in the Grade 2 Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase (2.07), but preference is for BANBRIDGE.
Winner of Cheltenham’s Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’
Hurdle during his days over the smaller obstacles, Joseph
O’brien’s (right) son of Doyen enjoyed a fine start to his chasing career last term.
On the back of scores at Gowran Park and Cheltenham, Banbridge was a podium finisher at the highest level at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse before landing the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree last April. The fact that success came against neophytes means that J J Slevin’s partner gets half of the 6lb penalty he would shoulder had it been in open company,, and Banbridge is a long way from the bottom of the barrel.
Mel Rowley has her team in good order and the Bridgnorth trainer is taken to enjoy an ITV4 double, set up by LATITUDE in the Bet-in-race With Coral Handicap Chase (1.30).
Rowley’s KYNTARA travels to Warwick for the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (1.49) on a hat-trick after Lingfield Park and Aintree this winter.
A personal best is required from a rating of 124, but Kayf Tara’s son is progressing and is expected to prove up to the job. Lucinda Russell’s APPLE AWAY makes plenty of appeal in the Grade 2 Trustatrader Hampton Novices’ Chase (2.24).
Although third behind Grey Dawning at Haydock Park on her fencing debut, the seven-yearold took a big step forward for a 31-length romp at Leicester last time out and revenge is likely.
The Veterans’ Handicap Chase (3.35) is salvaged from Sandown Park last Saturday and THOMAS DARBY is the selection after lifting a similar event over course and distance in November.
The Grade 2 William Hill Towton Novices’ Chase (1.10) at Wetherby is a good opportunity for COLONEL HARRY to get back in business after a fine second to Le Patron in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown five weeks ago.