Tolworth bonus for Culloty

Jim Culloty has stepped in for the ride on Howard Johnson’s ladbrokes.com Tolworth Hurdle hope Astronomic at Sandown Park this afternoon.

Intended pilot Tony Dobbin was badly hampered by fallen trees and strong winds as he attempted to make the journey south from his Cumbrian base.

He told Channel 4’s The Morning Line: “I’m actually three or four miles from home but there are that many trees fallen and my car has just died on me after going through a flood.

“My wife has just managed to pick me up now but we are struggling to get back home again. It’s terrible up here, absolutely desperate.

“It’s a sickener – I had some really good rides and everyone wants to go to the big meetings on a Saturday.”

Culloty was re-routed after Haydock’s meeting fell to waterlogging following an early-morning inspection.

He also replaces Dobbin on Chivalry in the Ladbroke Hurdle and Boy’s Hurrah in the ladbrokes.com Handicap Chase, with Timmy Murphy on Iron Man in the opening juvenile hurdle and Log On Intersky in the ladbrokescasino.com Handicap Chase.