Palua added to Spirit equation

Emma Lavelle’s Palua is the only extra entry to the totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

The two-mile contest was reopened until 9.15am this morning after just eight entries were received.

And Lavelle is hoping the race cuts up even more to give Palua a sporting chance of troubling the judge.

“It could finish up there only being a few runners so we might go and see if we can pick up some prize money as I’ve nowhere else to go with the horse,” explained the Andover trainer.

“If Kauto Star runs he should be a couple of stone behind him.

“Palua won’t be going to Cheltenham as he doesn’t enjoy it there.

“He’s in great nick and he’s happier going left-handed – Newbury’s just down the road and he’ll enjoy the track.

“I don’t think we’ll lose much by having a go.”

Of the original eight, Paul Nicholls and Martin Pipe are responsible for three entries each.

Kauto Star, ante-post favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, heads the Nicholls trio and is backed up by Armaturk and Andreas.

Pipe can choose from Locksmith, Tamarinbleu and Don’t Be Shy.

Fundamentalist, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, and Mark Rimell’s Oneway complete the list of possibles.