Victram on course for Newbury date

Imperial Cup winner Victram is bang on target for another assault on a major handicap hurdle in the totesport Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.

Adrian McGuinness’ charge will be making his fifth trip across the Irish Sea, with his last visit yielding a third-placed finish to Acambo and Tarlac in The Ladbroke at Ascot.

While those two head the betting for Saturday’s contest, Victram is available at 25-1.

However, he does have to put a disappointing showing in the Pierse Hurdle behind him.

“I just think he had too much weight last time in the Pierse, he had 11st 8lb and basically it is very hard to win a Pierse Hurdle with that kind of weight,” reflected McGuinness.

“We are not too badly treated over in England. I think we are about 12 or 13lb better off with Mister Hight than what we were in the Pierse.

“I think that is probably because we have run in England a few more times so they have had chance to assess us but we might also be a bit more exposed than some of the other Irish runners.

“The ground should be fine for him if it’s good to soft like they say.

“But we’ve had to change riding plans as Andrew Lynch has been claimed by Mr (Michael) O’Brien to ride Forget The Past in the Hennessy.

“I’ve booked Johnny Farrelly instead, Jonjo O’Neill’s young claimer, he is a rider I have a lot of time for.”