Ellison hoping Wetherby beats the weather

Brian Ellison is hoping Wetherby beats the weather tomorrow to give Loulou Nivernais the chance of continuing his winning ways.

The eight-year-old has just three rivals as he bids to complete a four-timer in the Betfair Handicap Chase, although the meeting is subject to a morning inspection.

Loulou Nivernais began his winning streak off a mark of 95 at the West Yorkshire track in mid-January and tomorrow he will run off 108, plus a 7lb penalty, following further wins at Uttoxeter and Market Rasen.

Conditional jockey Tom Dreaper, who claims 3lb, has ridden the horse to his last three wins and will again be in the saddle tomorrow.

As life is set to get tougher for Loulou Nivernais in future, Ellison has also entered the gelding in the totesport.com Grimthorpe Chase at Southwell on Saturday, but that meeting could also be in doubt because of the weather.

“He’s in on a 7lb penalty tomorrow, but the handicapper has put him up 13lb for winning at Market Rasen,” said the North Yorkshire trainer.

“He’s gone up 27lb for his last three wins. They seem to go up a lot but take a long time to come down. I hope it’s on tomorrow as he should win.

“He’s a nice horse and he’s improving leaps and bounds. He was a very nervous horse when we first got him, but he’s much better now and my daughter Lorraine rides him out every day.”