Drever on course for Windsor
Cashmans make him their 1-3 market leader from 2-5 after trainer Howard Johnson confirmed the reigning stayers’ champion is definitely on course for the race.
The County Durham handler and owner Graham Wylie also have recent Windsor winner No Refuge in the extended-three-mile-one-furlong feature, but it is Inglis Drever who is set to represent the powerful yard.
Johnson confirmed: “Inglis Drever definitely runs and he’s fit and well.”
The six-year-old has already lifted the John Smith’s Hurdle and Newbury’s Long Distance Hurdle, and connections are keen to gain more points in his bid to retain the British Horseracing Board’s Order of Merit crown.
Johnson added: “I just don’t know what to do, Inglis Drever definitely runs but I don’t know about the other one.
“I could run them both, but I think we might wait for Lingfield with No Refuge and then go for the National Spirit Hurdle. It’s so hard to find races for these horses.”
No Refuge won at the Cheltenham Festival last season and opened his current campaign with an impressive success in the Ascot Hurdle at Windsor last month.
Meanwhile Racing Demon is set for a return to Sandown on St Stephen's Day as he continues his education ahead of a planned trip to the Cheltenham Festival.
Trainer Henrietta Knight confirmed that her novice chaser, so impressive when winning the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at the same track earlier this month, is a probable runner in the Stan James Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase.
And while she hopes his long-term future may lie over trips further than two miles, Racing Demon is likely to stick to the minimum distance for the time being.
“He has definitely got to have one or two more races before he goes for the Arkle, but he won’t run in February so it is just a case of looking for the right opportunities,” she said.
“There really aren’t that many races that we can go for, so Sandown has got to be a serious consideration.
“A lot of people tell me that he was jumping to his right last time, but I couldn’t see anything wrong with it.
“He is going to stay three miles in time, but at the moment he is quite happy over two and so I won’t be changing things for the time being.”
Alan King may not run Triumph Hurdle winner Penzance again before the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle in February.
The four-year-old finished an 18-length fourth in the Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham last weekend and his trainer is now keen to give the Pennekamp gelding, who won each of his four starts as a juvenile hurdler last year, a rest before returning to the fray.
He told At The Races: “Before Saturday’s race I think we had to improve about 25lb to be really competitive. I was satisfied with the run.
“I will probably leave him alone for a month and we certainly won’t be taking him to Sandown for the Christmas Hurdle - I don’t think coming up the Sandown hill would suit.
“We might not run him until something like the Kingwell.”
But King is planning to run promising hurdler Senorita Rumbalita over the Festive period.
The four-year-old lifted a decent bumper event at Aintree last season, but was an unlucky loser on her hurdling bow at Wincanton when her saddle slipped.
Senorita Rumbalita made amends for that mishap with victory at Folkestone last time and King is now targeting the Bathwick Tyres Bridgwater Mares’ Only ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle at Wincanton on St Stephen's Day.
“She has always been a nice mare and has done things easily,” the Barbury Castle handler added.
“We had the mishap with the slipping saddle first time at Wincanton, but she won in good style at Folkestone and I think the plan is to take her to Wincanton for a mares’ only novice hurdle.”
And Len Lungo will bide his time before making a decision on where to send promising novice hurdler Rasharrow.
The six-year-old had been due to run at Cheltenham last Friday, but testing ground prompted his withdrawal. Rasharrow could now run at Musselburgh after Christmas as he bids to follow up wins at Kelso and Ayr.
“We haven’t really made a plan yet. We are looking at all the options for him, but we want to run him on good ground,” the Carrutherstown trainer said.
“The ground at Cheltenham was a bit sticky and I don’t think he has the action for that kind of going.
“We might look at Musselburgh on December 29 for him, but that’s just one of the options.”
Rasharrow is 20-1 with Ladbrokes and Coral for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
