Geraghty booked for Baloo

BARRY GERAGHTY has come in for the plum ride on Paul Nicholls’ exciting novice chaser Hoo La Baloo in Saturday’s Victor Chandler Handicap Chase.

The five-year-old was not among the original entries for the race, but with the race being switched to Sandown he will now carry Nicholls’ hopes rather than one-time favourite Albuhera.

Hoo La Baloo showed a liking for the track when he won the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day when ridden by Mick Fitzgerald, but this time another Irishman will be on board.