Manhattan set for Sandown

BOURBON MANHATTAN, who suffered a shock defeat at Towcester last time, is likely to bid to restore his reputation in the Grade One ladbrokes.com Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.

Winner of two of his three bumper races, Alan King’s charge impressed when making his jumping debut at Aintree last month, running out an 11-length winner from Bold Bishop.

As a result he was 2-17 to account for his 11 rivals in a novice event at Towcester, but he went down by two and a half lengths to the 100-1 chance Cetti’s Warbler.

However, King has no doubts that the ground was the reason for the reverse and reasoned: “He is a soft ground horse, but it was something different at Towcester, it just killed him and he just could not get out of it.

“Fortunately it did not seem to bottom him and he is due to work tomorrow and if he works well enough he will run on Saturday unless, though I don’t think it will happen, that Sandown goes heavy.

“If he did not go there then he could go to Wincanton or somewhere next week, but I don’t think Sandown will be a problem.”

Meanwhile Regional Racing starts this weekend when the first two fixtures have attracted a healthy entry.

Wolverhampton gets the show on the road on a trial basis on Saturday with Southwell following suit the day after.

Catering principally for horses with a handicap rating of 45 or below, the two cards have attracted 133 and 144 initial entries respectively.

“We are very pleased with the five-day entries for the first two Regional Racing fixtures at Wolverhampton and Southwell this weekend,” said British Horseracing Board racing director Ruth Quinn yesterday.

“Ten of the 12 races are oversubscribed, which bodes well for the rest of the trial, and the meetings should stage competitive racing.”