Somersby not certain to run in Chandler
The seven-year-old ran a creditable third behind Master Minded in the rearranged Tingle Creek at Cheltenham on his latest appearance and would meet his conqueror again at the weekend.
However, Knight is considering a step up in trip in a graduation chase at Kempton on February 11 with a view to having a tilt at the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
“I haven’t spoken to the owner yet and we’re just weighing up the weather prospects for February to decide whether he runs on Saturday or at Kempton next month,” said Knight.
“If Ascot was over two miles and three furlongs it would have been perfect because the timing is right and the horse is very well. He did a very good gallop last week and he’s very fit.
“It’s just a question of whether it’s sensible to go to Cheltenham having not raced over a distance further than two miles since last spring, where ran rather poorly at Aintree.
“He does just keep galloping. He had the speed for two miles when he was younger but when they get older, they get slower and they probably stay longer distances.”
I’m So Lucky is the outsider of the party in the Grade One event but is likely to take his chance.
The nine-year-old was a well-beaten fourth in the Tingle Creek but his trainer David Pipe hopes he will have benefited from that first run of the campaign and will be suited by the forecast drier conditions.
“I haven’t talked it over with his owner yet, but the plan is probably to run,” said Pipe.
“He’s been in good form since Cheltenham and will probably come on for the run.
“I think we’re in for a dryish week which will suit him better.”
