Creek in Huntingdon confidence booster

Mark Rimell’s Crossbow Creek will attempt to get his fledgling chasing career back on track in the David Braybrook Memorial HBLB Novices’ Chase at Huntingdon tomorrow.

After an electrifying first run over fences where he spreadeagled his field, the eight-year-old has been unfortunate on his last two starts and faces seven rivals in tomorrow’s race.

Stepped up in class to Grade Two level he was brought down at the first in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase won by Racing Demon, and then fell behind Hoo La Baloo in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase.

“He had a great start to his chasing career with a win and then we stepped him up in class only for him to be brought down at the first and he was then involved in a really messy race at Sandown,” said the Oxfordshire handler.

“I’m not too bothered about the race tomorrow, all I’m after is a clear round and with a bit of luck the Arkle is still the plan.

“Hopefully the ground won’t be too soft. He does need a quick surface to be at his best and he just needs a confidence booster really.

“In an ideal world he wants good to firm ground to jump off. I wouldn’t run him in the Arkle on very soft ground but on a decent surface he would take his chance. Otherwise we will wait for Liverpool with him.”

Rimell also had news of stable star Oneway who is still on target for a crack at the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Due to the recent soft ground around the country Rimell has been unable to get a run into him and the plan now is for a racecourse gallop to bring him to his peak.

“Oneway will have a racecourse gallop somewhere, I’m not sure where yet. He has had a couple of runs and he is not a hard horse to get fit,” Rimell continued.

“He doesn’t need another race and he doesn’t need jumping practice but he could just do with a gallop on some grass somewhere to put the icing on the cake 10 days before the Festival.

“All being well he will rekindle a bit of last year’s form and get back on track again.”