Oxx hurdler set to take the Naas route
Oxx has never trained a winner over obstacles but agreed to take out a jumping license after a request from Denis Reddan, owner of his useful middle-distance performer Icklingham.
Icklingham made a promising timber debut when fourth in a good event at Leopardstown a week and a half ago and was also given an entry to take on Aran Concerto in the Grade One contest this weekend.
However, he will head for an easier objective in the Barrettstown Maiden Hurdle at Naas a day later.
Oxx said: “He’ll wait for the maiden as I only entered him in the other race in case it cut up and there were only a few runners.
“This was the first choice, as he has only had one run and it is early days, so we will see how we go before stepping him up.
“I have enjoyed training Icklingham. He was a special case and he has had a fair few injuries. I had one jumper a fair few years ago that was second a couple of times.
“This is my first since then, and he would be a good bit better.”
It will only be a couple of months before one of Europe’s top trainers will be back in business again in his specialist field.
“The Flat horses are back in and all in good shape,” reported Oxx.
“We will miss (the now-retired former Irish St Leger winner) Kastoria.
“She was a good filly, but it was time for her to move on.”
Meanwhile a decision on Well Chief’s participation in tomorrow’s totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury will be taken this morning.
Although the 2005 Champion Chase runner-up pleased trainer David Pipe when schooling over fences yesterday, his participation in the Grade Two event is still not assured.
The eight-year-old has not raced since defeating Azertyuiop in the Betfred Celebration Chase nearly two years ago.
Pipe said: “Timmy Murphy came down to school him this morning and he pleased me, but I want to make sure he is OK in the morning.
“I also want to talk to his owner David Johnson, who is on holiday, and to Timmy before making a decision.
“The main thing is making sure the horse is OK, so I’ll leave a decision on whether he runs at Newbury or goes straight to Cheltenham until then.”
De Soto is likely to head to the Cheltenham Festival without another run after connections abandoned plans to go to Newbury tomorrow.
Trainer Paul Webber had been hoping to send his promising novice for the totesport Trophy at the Berkshire track.
However, the recent snow and prospect of rain have prompted Webber to reconsider and he is now likely to go straight to the Festival.
“It’s going to be too soft for him with all the snow and the rain,” said the Banbury handler.
“I think we will head straight to Cheltenham with him now.”
De Soto is also entered for Saturday’s Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown and the totesport.com Novices’ Hurdle at Exeter on Sunday but Webber is unlikely to send him to either venue.
“He is entered in Ireland but it wouldn’t be easy to get there with the way the weather is and it would probably be just as soft,” he added.
