Beaumont mulling Hussard options

Peter Beaumont is keen to give 2002 Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner Hussard Collonges a run this weekend but is undecided as to where to send his stable star.

The veteran Yorkshire handler has entered the horse in three races on Saturday, in handicap hurdles at Kelso and Huntingdon, as well as Doncaster’s totescoop6 Grimthorpe Chase.

The ten-year-old recently had his first outing for more than a year when eighth over timber at Haydock Park, and is set to return to the Cheltenham Festival for the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase.

“I am quite happy with him, and would like to run him this weekend, but whether it is in a chase at Doncaster or a hurdle somewhere, I just don’t know at the moment,” said Beaumont. “I will look at the ground and have a think first.

“Hopefully he will run at Cheltenham – I was satisfied with his run last week, but I need to give him a bit more practice.”

Another leading light from Beaumont’s stable, Flight Command, is also Festival bound but the gelding, who carries the same colours as Hussard Collonges, had his preparation race scuppered when today’s meeting at Wetherby was abandoned.

“He was going to run today and would have had a big chance,” added Beaumont. “He is entered in the Jewson Novices Handicap Chase at Cheltenham and I would prefer to give him another run first.

“There may be a race for him at Newcastle on Tuesday, but that is starting to get a bit near, and the weather