Sam set for Cheltenham run

Victor Dartnall will give Lord Sam his second outing of the season in the Mears Group Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on Friday week.

The nine-year-old returned from a sinus operation after being off the track since last December to finish fifth in the Paddy Power Gold at Cheltenham in November.

“He’s going for the Mears Group Chase and there’s no sign of any sinus trouble after his last run,” said Dartnall.

“I was very happy with his run in the Paddy Power – he jumped very well. I think there’s far too much made about his jumping, to be honest, and I was very pleased with it.”

The gelding steps up to three miles and one and a half furlongs in the Listed contest, and Dartnall added: “We’ll see how he goes at Cheltenham but we think he’s a three-mile chaser and he’s won over three miles twice.

“He’s got his handicap mark and he’s got to use it. If he’s better than that then he’ll show us.

“There’s no long-term plan – we’ll see how he gets on at Cheltenham on the Friday and just go on from there.”