Loopy Cheltenham bound

Order of Merit leader Snoopy Loopy is set to make his first start of the new year in Saturday’s Letheby & Christopher Chase at Cheltenham.

Peter Bowen’s remarkably improved performer is 14 points clear in the standings for the season-long championship and would earn 15 more if he wins at the weekend.

Snoopy Loopy has been the model of consistency, winning the Betfair Chase and placing in the likes of the Hennessy Gold Cup and Peterborough Chase but put in a substandard effort on his last run in the King George VI Chase, finishing a distant seventh to Kauto Star.

Bowen said: “He’s in good form and has been working well at home. He’s had a bit of a rest since the King George and will most likely do a piece of work Tuesday or Wednesday and that will be it.

“All things good, he’ll run on Saturday.”