Vic set for hunter chase outing

VIC Venturi is to continue his build-up to Aintree with a run in a hunter chase at Leopardstown later this month following his victory in a point-to-point on Sunday.

Trainer Dessie Hughes is giving the 12-year-old the option of either the Fox Hunters’ Chase or the John Smith’s Grand National over the legendary fences.

Vic Venturi has failed to complete on the last two runnings of the world’s greatest steeplechase, although he did win the Becher Chase over the fearsome obstacles in November 2009.

“We’re just going to give him a little bit of a chance and we have the options then at Aintree with the Fox Hunters or run him back in the National,” said the County Kildare-based handler.

“He’ll run in the hunters chase in Leopardstown now at the end of the month.

“He made all and won easy enough and it gives us a second option.”

* Grumeti was promoted to Triumph Hurdle favouritism despite losing his unbeaten record over timber in the Berkshire Stand Bookshop Juvenile Hurdle at Newbury yesterday.

Alan King‘s four-year-old, an impressive winner of his hurdling debut at Taunton, was sent off the 8-15 favourite to make it two from two and everything appeared to be going to plan.

Having been left at the head of affairs by the early departure of Circus Star, Wayne Hutchinson gradually wound up the pace and smart Flat recruits Art History and Sud Pacifique had no answer to the speed and accurate jumping of Grumeti.

With the race seeming in the bag, however, Grumeti slid on landing after the second last flight, leaving Art History in front. John Ferguson‘s inmate was finding it tough going in front which allowed Noel Quinlan‘s Crafty Roberto (40-1) and Tom O‘Brien to win by a length and a half. Coral make Grumeti their new 7-1 favourite from 10-1.

* Nicky Henderson has decided not to work a clutch of his stable stars at Newbury this morning.

The likes of Spirit Son, Riverside Theatre, Burton Port, Soldatino and French Opera were due to gallop, but the nature of the ground at the Berkshire track means Henderson will now do the work at home.

“It‘s nobody‘s fault at all that the ground is soft, but just with the frost coming out, it is very sticky,” said Henderson.

“I‘d rather not do it (gallop) on ground this sticky, (as) a few of them are coming back from a long time off. Burton Port, Riverside, French Opera, they‘ve all been off for a bit.

“French Opera hates soft ground and he was going to be the lead horse. He wouldn‘t have been able to lead them for two furlongs on ground like this, so I just feel it is safer to do it at home.”