Ground fear for Lungo

Len Lungo issued a warning to punters today over the participation of Only Once in Saturday’s Tote Eider Chase.

The nine-year-old is 5-1 joint-favourite with the sponsors for the Newcastle showpiece, but the trainer is worried the ground may prove to be quicker than ideal.

“It has been the plan to try and run at Newcastle, but they are talking about a dry and frosty week and if that is the case, I wouldn’t want to run him on fast ground,” the trainer said.

Only Once has raced on just three occasions, twice being successful over fences in the early part of 2003 before returning to finish a good second to stablemate Paddy The Piper over timber last weekend.

“We had a little bit of a training setback so he couldn’t run before Saturday, but he did run well,” said the Carrutherstown-based handler.

“He has come out of that race well and the horse looks fine, he is fresh and well, but we are keeping an anxious eye on the ground and are in the lap of the gods.

“I have got an alternative at Carlisle on Monday over three and a half miles, but that is only a £12,000 (€17,808) race and I would rather be having a crack at the Eider.”