McGuinness targeting Tobin

Adrian McGuinness hopes to book promising conditional Kevin Tobin for Victram in Saturday’s Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle.

The 7lb claimer has been seen to good effect on Kanad for his boss Charlie Mann this season but Noel Fehily is likely to partner that horse in the Ascot feature.

Victram had 5lb claimer Andrew Lynch in the saddle when third to Acambo in this race 12 months ago off a mark of 128 and McGuinness wants to compensate for his rating of 132 this time round.

“He’s not too badly treated but I hope to get Kevin Tobin to ride him and he’ll take a few pounds off his back,” said McGuinness.

Victram, who plundered the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March 2006, needed the run when seventh to Sizing Europe in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last month in his first race since March.

McGuinness then gave him a run on the new all-weather track at Dundalk and believes he has the seven-year-old cherry ripe for Ascot.

“He’s in great form. We gave him a spin on the all-weather a couple of weeks ago. It was just a blow-out after Cheltenham,” the Lusk-based handler went on.

“He ran quite well there, but it was basically his first run of the year and he got tired from the bottom of the hill.

“I’m very happy with him now and hopefully he’ll run a big race. The ground is a bit of a concern but I’ve been assured there’s no jar in it at all so it should suit him.”

Victram is 20-1 with the sponsors for Ladbroke glory.