BENNY OFF TO BIG BASH

» Gloucestershire all-rounder signs for the Melbourne Renegades,

AMY Murphy’s stable star Kalashnikov is set to return to Cheltenham this weekend for the rescheduled Fitzdares Club Loves The Peterborough Chase.

The seven-year-old was not due to contest the Grade Two contest in its original guise at Huntingdon, due to his preference for left-handed tracks.

However, with Huntingdon’s fixture abandoned due to flooding, the race was rescheduled and switched to Friday’s card at Cheltenham, where Kalashnikov was narrowly beaten in the 2018 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Murphy said: “The Peterborough Chase wasn’t Plan A as usually it’s run right-handed, but now it’s been switched to a left-handed track, he’s very much an intended runner.”

Kalashnikov suffered a broken blood vessel on his final start of last season when fifth behind Altior in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury.

Murphy added: “We were very happy with the run at Haydock.

“He probably just didn’t quite see out the three miles, but he’ll have come on plenty for that and there was no bleed, which was the main thing.”

Seven of the nine horses declared for the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon are again in contention - Bun Doran, Top Notch, Mister Fisher, Al Dancer, Dolos, Fanion D’estruval and Glen Forsa - but Nuts Well and Forest Bihan are not. Clondaw Castle, Master Tommytucker and Militarian are also among the 11-strong field.

EASYSLAND will not attempt backto-back victories in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase on Friday.

The six-year-old, trained in France by David Cottin, was surprisingly beaten on his seasonal debut when only fourth to Kingswell Theatre over the course and distance last month.

He was odds-on favourite that day despite the presence of Tiger Roll, having beaten the dual Grand National hero comprehensively at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

It looked as if Easysland, owned by JP Mcmanus, was going to return the Cotswolds for the race he won by seven lengths 12 months ago.

However, Cottin is disappointed their horse would meet the first three that day - Kingswell Theatre, Beau De Brizais and Potters Corner - on worse terms, although an unsatisfactory scope means Potters Corner also misses the race.

Cottin said: “Firstly let me report that Easysland is fit and well, and I am very happy with the horse.

“Unfortunately this weekend we won’t be going to Cheltenham to run in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase as I found it disappointing that the handicapper should see fit that we would meet the winner on 4lb worse terms despite being beaten by nine lengths, the second who beat us by four lengths, also on 4lb worse terms and the third horse on 1lb worse terms.

Potters Corner’s trainer Christian Williams tweeted on Tuesday: “Potters Corner returned an unsatisfactory scope following his final preparation for Friday’s Glenfarclas Chase at Cheltenham. He will not run and was immediately scratched from the race at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Alan King plans to make a late call on whether Sceau Royal lines up for Saturday’s Unibet International Hurdle.

Better known as a high-class twomiler over fences, the eight-year-old has successfully reverted to the smaller obstacles this season with victories in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las and the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

He had to make do with the runnerup spot behind last season’s Champion Hurdle heroine Epatante in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle on his latest appearance - and King is undecided as to whether to let his charge turn out at Cheltenham.

“I’m going to wait and see what the weather does and he’s also got to do a little bit of work beforehand, so we’ll see how that goes,” said the Barbury Castle handler.

“He seems in good order, but I won’t make a decision until Thursday.”

The Peterborough Chase wasn’t Plan A as usually it’s run right-handed, but now it’s been switched to a lefthanded track, he’s very much an intended runner

Amy Murphy