Leader facing Truckers rematch in Whittle Chase
Jonjo O'Neill's eight-year-old beat Truckers Tavern by 17 lengths in the three-mile contest 12 months ago and Ferdy Murphy's 2003 Cheltenham Gold Cup second is due to reoppose on Saturday.
Truckers Tavern reappeared over hurdles at Ayr earlier this month, finishing fourth behind The French Furze over an inadequate two and a half miles.
"Truckers Tavern will go for the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock Park on Saturday," said Murphy. "He's progressed well since his seasonal reappearance at Ayr and we're really pleased with him.
"We were tempted to give him another run over hurdles at Chepstow, but we feel that as he has progressed so well since Ayr, a run over fences would be more beneficial to him."
Murphy feels that Haydock plays to Truckers Tavern's strengths.
He said: "He likes Haydock he was second in this race last year and won the Peter Marsh Chase the season before. The track is ideal for him.
"We could really do with some rain for him. Hopefully Tony Dobbin will be available to ride, as that will be a big help."
Keen Leader was beaten into third place behind Horus and Chives in the Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase at Haydock two weeks ago and the trio could all reoppose on Saturday.
After his last run, O'Neill nominated the Tommy Whittle as Keen Leader's most likely next target.
Sue Smith, trainer of Chives, could also run Royal Emperor, one of the leading novices last season.
Two interesting contenders on the comeback trail are the Howard Johnson-trained Ballybough Rasher, not seen out since causing a 40-1 shock in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last season, and the 2003 Royal & SunAlliance Chase victor One Knight.
The Philip Hobbs-trained One Knight has been sidelined through injury since falling at the first fence in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury 12 months ago.
There are two entries from Ireland Edward O'Grady's Pizarro, a top novice last term, and Cloudy Bays, trained by Charles Byrnes. The latter has been in great form this season, finishing third behind Beef Or Salmon in a Grade One contest at Down Royal on his penultimate start before coming second in the Clonmel Oil Chase 11 days ago.
Also entered are the 2004 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Sir Rembrandt, Nigel Twiston-Davies' promising novice Baron Windrush, the consistent Take The Stand and Ballybrophy.
The ground on the chase course at Haydock is currently good to soft, soft in places. Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright said: "We are due for a substantially cold and dry week.
"I would think the ground will be broadly the same at the weekend as it is now."
