Creek could take on big guns

Impressive Taunton winner Crossbow Creek could step up in class in the Sodexho Prestige Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

After demolishing the opposition to score by five lengths on his chasing bow, trainer Mark Rimell is eyeing a crack at this weekend’s Grade Two event, for which 10 entries have been received.

He told At The Races: “He was good at Taunton the other day and when they jump round there like that first time out you are fairly pleased.

“This weekend will come quick enough for him but he has come out of the race well and didn’t really have more than an exercise around Taunton.”

Also entered for the two-mile event is Paul Nicholls’ unbeaten Cerium and his stablemate Hoo La Baloo.

Henrietta Knight has been aiming Racing Demon at the race – which is well known for throwing up Arkle clues – for some time and he is also entered along with Howard Johnson’s pair Astronomic and Iron Man.