Get Me Out for Trophy double
The Jonjo O’Neill-trained gelding was unplaced in two starts in the first half of the season, yet he was a novice when he landed this prestigious handicap hurdle 12 months ago before being just touched off by Menorah at Cheltenham.
Although he has performed below that level so far this campaign, Get Me Out Of Here is reported in good form again.
“He’s been a bit disappointing in his last couple of runs, but hopefully he’s back in good form,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.
“He has plenty of weight but hopefully he will give a good account of himself.”
A novice with a chance this season is the Favourites Racing-owned Iolith, who tackles handicap company for the first time after wins at Kempton and Taunton.
He is one of four runners, along with Walkon, Salden Licht and The Betchworth Kid, from the Alan King stable.
“I watched him do his last piece of work on Wednesday with Walkon. Both Alan and I were happy with it. It’s all systems go,” said Graham Skeats, racing manager for Favourites Racing.
“The owners are really excited about it and really up for it. It’s rare you get a chance to get syndicated horses in a race like this for good money.
“I’m absolutely thrilled we’ve got Richard (Johnson). I’m got a huge amount of respect for him.
“On form he’s got something to prove. His course work has always been very good and he’s been working with Alan’s good horses for a few years and fingers crossed he’ll know the time of day.”
Stable jockey Robert Thornton partners Walkon, who only got the go-ahead following a schooling session on Thursday after confirming he had benefited for his comeback run at Ascot three weeks ago.
“I’ve been thinking about it since Ascot, to be honest, as this has been a possibility for Walkon since then,” Thornton told Racing UK.
“I schooled him on Thursday morning and he seemed in great form.
“He’s arguably 6lb well in so provided he doesn’t bounce, he has an obvious chance.”
Wayne Hutchinson is looking forward to riding Salden Licht, who shares top weight with Solix.
“It’s a big ask with the burden he has but he’s quite a strong individual so he should carry it. It depends if he’s good enough,” he said.
Nicky Henderson is triple-handed with French import Solix, Triumph Hurdle winner Soldatino and Swinton scorer Eradicate as he tries to win the race for a fifth time.
“Solix is an unknown quantity because he hasn’t run in England. Unfortunately he’s now at the top of the handicap which I didn’t want and which is a tough task,” said the Seven Barrows handler.
“We had a tricky autumn with Soldatino but since Christmas things have gone well and he needed a run.
“We let him start over two miles three at Ascot, but he was very fresh and very keen going down to the start. Having got that freshness out of him he’ll be much better at Newbury."
