Flyer set for Aintree outing

Moscow Flyer, who unseated his rider in his bid for back-to-back wins in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, is likely to step up to two and a half miles in his attempt to gain compensation.

Trainer Jessica Harrington has targeted the £150,000 (€223,978) Martell Cognac Melling Chase at Aintree next Friday for the 10-year-old who has not tackled the longer trip over fences.

Said Mrs Harrington: “Moscow Flyer is in good form and he will run unless the ground turns up soft.

“After Aintree I would hope to run him in the Betdaq.com Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival at the end of April. But we are taking things one day at a time.”

Should he go to Liverpool then he would face Arthur Moore’s Native Upmanship who has captured the Grade One race for the last two years.

Moore’s 11-year-old, who was runner-up to Moscow Flyer in the 2003 Queen Mother Champion Chase, bypassed the Cheltenham Festival this time to wait for Aintree.