Rethink on Lord plans

The Dark Lord’s scheduled chasing debut has been delayed a few days because his owner is likely to have an interest in a Group One race at Newmarket on Saturday.

Sir Percy also carries the colours of Anthony Pakenham and the unbeaten two-year-old colt, trained by Marcus Tregoning, is set to take his chance in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes.

The Dark Lord, a useful staying hurdler, holds entries in beginners’ chases at Huntingdon and Stratford on Saturday but will be re-routed, possibly to Ludlow or Fakenham next week.

“The Dark Lord won’t run on Saturday as the owner also has Sir Percy, who looks like going for the Dewhurst,” said trainer Lucy Wadham.

“We’ll be having a look at Ludlow next Thursday and Fakenham the following day for him. He wants top of the ground.

“He’s in good order and ready to run.”

The Newmarket-based handler wants softer conditions for another budding chaser, Kopeck, who has been off the track since January 2003.

“He’s in at Huntingdon on Saturday but will only run if there is significant rain,” Wadham added.

“He joined us the year before last from Nick Gifford’s yard but he’s had lots of niggling problems.

“Like The Dark Lord he’s ready for a race now. We’ll be looking for a beginners’ chase between two and two and a half miles for him. He could go to Ludlow if the ground was soft enough.”