Innox bypasses Kempton repeat

Innox, winner of the Racing Post Chase 12 months ago, bypasses the Kempton feature on Saturday to wait for the Cheltenham Festival.

The French-trained gelding was not among 19 five-day entries for the valuable three-mile handicap at today’s confirmation stage.

“Innox is fine, but he was never really going there,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner J P McManus.

“He’ll probably run in one of the chases at Cheltenham then on to the Grand National. He’ll probably go for something like the William Hill Trophy or the Kim Muir.”

However, McManus could still be represented by Reveillez, as long as the ground is suitable.

“Hopefully, if the ground doesn’t get any softer he’ll run at Kempton on Saturday,” Berry continued. “James (Fanshawe) couldn’t be happier with him.”

Reveillez, winner of the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase at the 2006 Festival, has not raced since finishing unplaced behind Exotic Dancer in the Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham in December.

Despite his lack of recent form, the grey is 9-1 third favourite with Coral, who make Lucifer Bleu the 100-30 favourite.

The latter is one of five possibles from the David Pipe stable, the Nicholashayne handler also being responsible for Tamarinbleu, Puntal, Celtic Son and Iznogoud, who was third to Marlborough in 2004 and runner-up to Farmer Jack the following season.

Although the gelding, a winner at Wincanton on Saturday, is currently out of the handicap, the weights are set to rise by at least 7lb.

They are now headed jointly by Henry Daly’s Billyvoddan, winner of Ascot’s Silver Cup in December, and Lacdoudal from the Philip Hobbs stable.

Other interesting possibles include Billyvoddan’s stablemate Alderburn, Sky Bet Chase winner Simon and the Venetia Williams-trained Limerick Boy.