Energumene and Edwardstone handed rearranged Clarence House opportunity

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The British Horseracing Authority has confirmed the Clarence House Chase will take place at Cheltenham next Saturday.

It is the third time since 2013 that Ascot, the race’s home, has been abandoned due to the weather and Cheltenham a week later has stepped into the breach to stage the race.

The BHA were keen to thank the Horserace Betting Levy Board for its contribution to the prize-money, with £90,000 up for grabs.

Entries will revert to the early-closing stage, with confirmations made on Monday morning followed by declarations on Thursday.

Punters were looking forward to a clash between last year’s Champion Chase winner Energumene and the Arkle hero Edwardstone – and after connections of the former confirmed earlier in the week they were keen to run if the race was rearranged, Alan King joined suit.

He said: “We’ll go there, that’s the plan.

“If it hadn’t been rescheduled and then Newbury was off (Game Spirit Chase) then we really are in trouble.

“I’m very grateful they’ve put it back on and that will be the plan.”

Winter Derby-bound Pyledriver still Dwyer’s ride when he returns from injury

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William Muir insists Martin Dwyer will keep the ride on King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Pyledriver once he returns from a knee injury.

A son of Harbour Watch, both the La Pyle Partnership-owned six-year-old and his jockey have been sidelined.

While Dwyer is still undergoing treatment for a torn ACL and has spent the last year out of action, Pyledriver is now nearing his first start since last summer’s victory at Ascot and is being primed to make his comeback in the BetUK Winter Derby at Lingfield next month.

Trained by Muir in partnership with Chris Grassick, Pyledriver was was being prepared for October’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe but suffered a setback that also ruled him out of the Breeders’ Cup.

The February 25 all-weather contest will be a stepping stone for a trip to Meydan for the Dubai Sheema Classic at the end of March.

Muir said: “The timing is perfect for Dubai. That is where we are hoping to go. We are turning the wheel to get there.

“We did the same when we went to Hong Kong in 2021, we went to Lingfield first.

“Yes, the trip is not ideal over a mile and a quarter, but so what? It is a prep race to try and put the finishing touches on. I don’t want to get to Dubai and have to really crank him up there.

“So he will go there and it is a race where he will run well, but you may get some match-fit horses against him.

“But what does it matter? There are going to be other targets throughout the summer and this is the starting point.”

He added: “He is doing everything we are asking of him and we are starting to turn the wheel faster and faster. We will hopefully be in good shape when we get there. Everything seems to be rock and roll.”

Martin Dwyer will resume his partnership once he returns from injury
Martin Dwyer will resume his partnership once he returns from injury (Mike Egerton/PA)

The homebred, who also won the 2021 Coronation Cup and was fourth in last year’s Sheema Classic for the Linkslade yard, will again be partnered by PJ McDonald, who continues to deputise for Muir’s son-in-law.

Muir added: “When Martin is back, Martin will get back on him. PJ understands and Martin understands.

“But there is no question, as long as PJ is around and safe and sound, PJ is keeping the ride on him if Martin is not available.

“Martin needs to have something to look forward to. He has never been out for this length of time, and it’s a tough thing for him.”

Moore eyeing Sidney Banks redemption for Givega

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Gary Moore is backing Givega to bounce back from his disappointing run in the Leamington Novices’ Hurdle – and he could be given the opportunity to put things right in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon next month.

A winner in the pointing field for Colin Bowe in early 2021, the son of Authorized, who is out of a sister to the great six-time Cheltenham Festival winner Quevega, had done nothing but create a deep impression in his early outings under Rules.

He recorded a runaway 13-length victory at Lingfield on debut and soon followed that up with an easy win at Fontwell on Boxing Day, which saw him sent off the 3-1 favourite when stepping up in both trip and class at Warwick.

Givega (left) was one of the runners in action during The Ballymore Leamington Novices’ Hurdle at Warwick
Givega (left) was one of the runners in action during The Ballymore Leamington Novices’ Hurdle at Warwick (Nigel French/PA)

However, he raced far too keenly in the hands of Jamie Moore in the two-mile-five-furlong Grade Two contest and was beating a retreat when pulled up before two out.

“He was far too keen, but I learnt quite a lot that day and there’s things we won’t be doing again,” said Moore.

“Jamie went the way he did because he felt the ground was fresher that side, but it lit the horse up too much and he overraced and you just don’t finish off then.

“We would just give him plenty of daylight in his races in future, he’s either got to be up the front or out the back, one or the other.”

The seven-year-old could now be given the opportunity to make amends in what is shaping up to be a competitive running of the Urban Logistics Reit Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon on February 9, with the Listed event also a possibility for well-regarded stablemate Authorised Speed.

“We’ll see how he is and see what the ground is like and he could go to the Sidney Banks,” continued Moore.

“The other horse who could also go for that is Authorised Speed. They both need soft ground though, which you don’t often get at Huntingdon.”

Bristol De Mai raring to go for weekend action, weather permitting

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Connections of ever-popular Bristol De Mai are hoping that Haydock’s Saturday card gets the green light but will switch to Lingfield if the meeting falls to the weather.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained 12-year-old, who has won 10 of his 34 chase starts and finished second on another 10 occasions, relishes Haydock, especially when the ground is deep.

The consistent grey was runner-up in the Grand National Trial at the Merseyside track in February last year and was awarded the race six months later following The Galloping Bear’s disqualification.

His enthusiasm was evident on his return, as he showed up well for a long way in the Betfair Chase before tiring from four out.

Now he drops into handicap company for the Peter Marsh Chase, his first preference over Lingfield’s Fleur De Lys Chase on Sunday.

Anthony Bromley, racing manager to owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: “Basically we were planning to run him this weekend in either of the two races and he is declared for both.

“We will run in the first one that’s actually on and I’m pretty doubtful that either will be.

“If that is the case, we will wait for the Grand National Trial at Haydock at the next meeting for him, which he ran well in last year.

“With the inspection moved to 8am at Haydock, we are planning to be there. If that’s off, then we will look at Lingfield and we will redirect there.

“He has been a wonderful servant to the owners. He won a Grade One Hurdle as a three-year-old at Chepstow on his first run for the owners nine years ago and he’s still got the spark in him. They are they are happy with him at home.”

Though a precautionary inspection is planned for 8am, Sandy Thomson, who trains Empire Steel, one of six in the line-up, hopes a decision is made early, as he will be setting off at 6.30am from Berwickshire.

Empire Steel was pulled up behind Royale Pagaille in the race last year but bounced back to score at Kelso, and ran well for a long way when seventh to Brave Seasca at Aintree on his return in December.

“I was delighted with his run at Aintree,” said Thomson. “He didn’t run well in the race last year but he ran well at Haydock before that, so we are hoping for a big run.

“He has won on heavy, but I don’t think any horse will like the ground it is going to be, but for the money it is not the most competitive race.”

Stage Star had a confidence-boosting outing at Plumpton last time
Stage Star had a confidence-boosting outing at Plumpton last time (Mike Egerton/PA)

Elsewhere on the card, the Paul Nicholls-trained Stage Star looks to take another progressive step when he lines up against Grand Voyage and Lac De Constance in the Grade Two Patrick Coyne Memorial Altcar Novices’ Chase.

Winner of the Challow Hurdle at Newbury last season, he opened his chasing account when scoring at Warwick and put behind him a sub-par effort next time when winning as he liked in a minor Plumpton event.

“He is a smart young chaser and bounced back to form in style last time at Plumpton where his jumping was brilliant” Nicholls reported on his Betfair blog.

“I think you can put a line through his previous defeat at Newbury where he was hanging quite badly left in the closing stages.

“He wasn’t quite right that day but looked in top order at Plumpton and continues to please at home.”

Chasing Fire could be chasing bigger prizes shortly as he step up into Grade Two company for the first time in the Sky Bet Supreme Trail Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle.

Olly Murphy says he would not swap Chasing Fire
Olly Murphy says he would not swap Chasing Fire (David Davies/PA)

Having won his bumper, he is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles, both victories coming at Market Rasen.

“We are taking a step up in class and that will hopefully tell us where we are moving forward,” said Murphy.

“We were delighted with his run last time and while it looks a decent race – I know Dan (Skelton) likes his horse (Pembroke) and Paul’s (Nicholls) horse (Toothless) won well at Fakenham last time – I wouldn’t swap my fellow for anything.

“If he comes out of this well, we will likely head for the Supreme, but this will tell us where we are with him.”

Nicholls saddles the ex-French Toothless in the seven-strong line-up, the son of Authorized having produced a facile success on his British debut.

“He made an eyecatching debut for us by winning a maiden hurdle at Fakenham by 35 lengths on New Year’s Day and Bryony Frost was so enthusiastic about him afterwards,” added Nicholls.

“His form in three starts in France last spring was ordinary so we gave him plenty of time and felt he had improved massively in his home work before Fakenham.

“This is a big step up in grade for Toothless who I’d say is a smart horse. He is certainly bred in the purple and is a half-brother to the classy dual-purpose horse Sceau Royal.”

Al Agaila on hat-trick trail in Winter Oaks feature

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Al Agaila bids to complete her hat-trick in the talkSPORT Winter Oaks at Lingfield on Saturday.

Following three placed efforts last summer, Simon and Ed Crisford’s filly bolted up when opening her account at Kempton last month before following up in similarly impressive style in the Winter Oaks Trial over this course and distance just before Christmas.

An 11lb hike makes life significantly tougher, but a bold bid can nevertheless be expected in the £100,000 all-weather feature of Lingfield’s Winter Million Festival.

“She went up 11lb for her win last time out, when she won very impressively. She’s an improving filly, but 11lb is a big hike,” said Ed Crisford.

“She has a good draw (stall two). It’s a big step up, but if she can carry the 11lb extra then I’m sure she’s capable of better things.

“She’s potentially an exciting filly.”

The Harry Eustace-trained Makinmedoit was beaten two and a half lengths into second place by Al Agaila little over four weeks ago and does have a significant pull at the weights.

“Makinmedoit has been a star really and just keeps on improving,” said Eustace.

Makinmedoit (red cap) chases home Al Agaila at Lingfield
Makinmedoit (red cap) chases home Al Agaila at Lingfield (Zac Goodwin/PA)

“We’re 10lb better at the weights with the Crisford horse, which probably won’t be enough, but we came from a long way back that day and there’s less runners this time round, which is extraordinary given the prize-money.

“If we could just sit a bit closer, you never know.”

Eustace has a second string to his bow in At A Pinch, who has not run on the Flat since 2021 but is fit from a recent spell over obstacles.

Eustace added: “With At A Pinch, the money was just too good not to roll the dice with her. She was bought to be a hurdler, but she’s got Flat form and there’s no reason why she can’t run a race.

“I was actually looking at the prize-money for Cheltenham the other day and if she was the very best hurdler we had going there, she’d be running for £125,000 added prize-money and she can run for £100,000 added in an eight-runner fillies’ handicap, so we’ll just see how we go.

“It’s extraordinary there’s less runners this time round than for the trial race a month ago. Everyone moans about prize-money, they put it on and no one goes for it, but there we are.”

Another trainer firing a twin assault is Charlie Fellowes, with top-weight Purple Ribbon joined by stablemate Tequilamockingbird.

Purple Ribbon steps back into a fillies’ handicap after finishing second to the highly-rated Belloccio in the Listed Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton in November, while Tequilamockingbird was only a short head behind Makinmedoit when third in the Winter Oaks Trial.

“Purple Ribbon is a very lightly-raced filly, but she’s very consistent. Barring an unfortunate run around Lingfield, she’s not finished out of the first two,” said Fellowes.

“She ran a blinder last time out in a pretty competitive Listed race. She’s got the class in the race, but she has to give weight away to everyone, which will be tough.

“But she’s a pretty good filly and I’ve got no concerns about the drop back to 10 furlong as she’s got plenty of speed, so I’m looking forward to seeing her run.

“Tequilamockingbird is a model of consistency and has a very good record around Lingfield – 10 furlongs around there is literally perfect for her.

“She was a bit unlucky last time out when they went absolutely no gallop and off a stronger pace, she goes in there with a nice each-way squeak.”

Charlie Fellowes is delighted with the prize-money on offer at Lingfield
Charlie Fellowes is delighted with the prize-money on offer at Lingfield (Mike Egerton/PA)

Fellowes was keen to give praise to Lingfield’s owners Arena Racing Company for putting on such huge prize-money at a time when owners are struggling to resist huge offers from abroad.

He added: “You’ve got to give all credit to ARC. It’s prize-money like this that will encourage people to keep horses in training and Tequilamockingbird is a perfect example of that, as she was due to be sold at the mares sale last year and I managed to persuade the owners to remove her from the sale and keep her in training over the winter for a crack at this.

“That is what everyone wants – to see horses kept in training in Britain. We have a fantastic industry and it’s frustrating for a lot of people that the cream of our horses tend to get sold abroad.

“The more of this (prize-money) we can get, the more we can keep horses in training and rebuff these ridiculous offers we’re getting from abroad.

“It’s all down to prize-money and the more money we can offer, the more we can attract our owners to keep horses here and the stronger our industry will be.”

Moore teams up with Boughey quartet as he kicks off British season

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Ryan Moore returns to British action for the first time this year at Lingfield’s Winter Million fixture on Saturday, with four rides for trainer George Boughey.

The leading jockey has enjoyed a well-earned break since riding in Hong Kong last month and Boughey has given him an excellent chance to hit the ground running by providing him with a strong book of rides.

Moore makes his comeback in the opening BetUK’s Acca Club £5 Free Bet Handicap aboard Ehteyat, who carries a 5lb penalty for a comfortable victory at Southwell last Sunday.

Ryan Moore - back in action at Lingfield
Ryan Moore – back in action at Lingfield (Mike Egerton/PA)

The four-year-old is drawn widest of all in stall 10, but Boughey is nevertheless anticipating another bold showing.

He said: “The track probably isn’t to his liking as he’s a big, strong staying type and he’s drawn widest of all, so there’s a few things for Ryan to try to negate.

“But he seems to have come out of Southwell in good shape and the way he hits the line suggests he should stay the two miles pretty well.”

Boughey and Moore team up in the following talkSPORT Powered By Fans Handicap with Pocket The Packet, who has won five times from eight starts since October and gone up 40lb in the ratings as a result.

He is 13lb higher than when triumphing at Lingfield just over a week ago and Boughey admits the handicapper is bound to catch up with him sooner or later.

“I didn’t expect him to do what he did the other day. The race looked to fall apart a bit and he’s got a big hike for winning that,” Boughey added.

“He’s never been a horse that has really expressed himself as an 85-rated horse, but he’s three from three in handicaps at the track and we’ll give it another go.

“He’s a very ordinary work horse – he wouldn’t go past a 50 horse. He’s been a pleasant surprise.”

The Newmarket handler appears more confident about the chances of his final two runners on the card – Paris Lights and All The King’s Men.

Former Jessica Harrington inmate Paris Lights made a successful start for Boughey over the course and distance last month and enters the handicap arena off a mark of 80 in the Huge Daily Boosts Only At BetUK Handicap.

All The King’s Men, meanwhile, is a dual winner in France and makes his debut for the yard in the Spreadex Sports Get £40 In Bonuses Handicap.

Boughey said: “Paris Lights is good and we slightly hoped he’d do what he did on stable debut.

“He was gelded when he came to us and looked good the other day. He looks quite progressive, he’s drawn in the middle and I hope he should run a big race.

“He went up 5lb for his last run and he goes there off a nice mark, I think.

“All The King’s Men was gelded on his arrival at the yard and his work has been good. He’s a half-brother to a Group One performer (Goken), so I think he’s a horse that should give a bold account of himself.

“He’s a horse that will hopefully stay a bit further in time, but this is a nice starting point and his work on the all-weather surfaces at home has been good, so we’re going there in pretty good shape.”

Haydock hoping Saturday card can beat the freeze

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Officials at Haydock have not yet given up hope Saturday’s high-profile fixture will beat the cold snap, with the track deemed raceable on Friday ahead of a planned precautionary inspection at 8am on raceday.

Ascot’s Clarence House Chase card was called off on Thursday and Haydock’s meeting looked to be heading the same way after snow fell on frozen ground on Wednesday night.

Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright admitted things were “not looking as good as they were” and announced an inspection for noon on Friday.

However, with the snow having cleared, Tellwright was in a more optimistic mood on Friday morning, and therefore cancelled Friday’s inspection and instead called a precautionary check for Saturday.

The Merseyside venue is due to stage four Grade Two events, including The New One Unibet Hurdle and Peter Marsh Chase.

Tellwright said: “We’ve had a good night and we’re in a better place than we expected to be, but in the context of the forecast we’ve put a precautionary in for tomorrow morning.

“The snow on the track has gone and we’re fit to race this morning, so it entirely hinges on the scale of any frost tonight.

“We’re forecast temperatures of between just below zero and minus 2C, which is the difference between success and failure.”

Taunton will inspect at 4pm on Friday
Taunton has been abandoned (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

If Haydock does get the green light, it will be the sole jumps meeting in Britain on Saturday after Taunton’s fixture was abandoned on Friday afternoon.

A precautionary check was initially called for 8am on raceday, but deteriorating conditions prompted a change of plans and the inspection was brought forward to 4pm on Friday.

However, with the course still unraceable and no prospect of sufficient improvement, the fixture was called off shortly after 3pm.

Sunday’s meeting at Fakenham has also been called off due to a frozen track following a 2pm inspection on Friday. Officials were due to check the course on Saturday but brought forward that look as conditions were not improving.

Danny Brock disqualified for 15 years following corruption hearing

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Former jockey Danny Brock has been disqualified for 15 years after a British Horseracing Authority independent disciplinary panel found him in breach of the rules regarding corruption and fraud.

The rider was subject to a BHA disciplinary hearing in December alongside five other individuals who were collectively found to have conspired to profit from Brock’s corruption.

The breaches related to three races on the all-weather between December 2018 and March 2019, though the panel were also asked to consider six further races to highlight the contrast between rides in which Brock was attempting to win the race and occasions on which he was not.

The five other parties were Sean McBride, who is assistant trainer to his father Philip ‘Charlie’ McBride in Newmarket, Luke Olley, Eugene Maloney, Andrew Perring and Luke Howells.

The panel considered there to be an evident pattern between the outcome of the races in question and the betting habits of the other individuals involved in the hearing – with Brock seemingly riding to attain a profitable result for his co-defendants.

An example put forward was a five-furlong contest at Southwell on March 7, 2019, when Brock was aboard Samovar and his co-defendants had collectively staked a five-figure sum on the only other runner in the two-horse race, Tricky Dicky.

Samovar dwelt in the stalls and the panel deemed Brock to have been late in removing the horse’s blindfold before making little effort until a furlong from home, with the horse eventually beaten by 10 lengths.

Of the six individuals involved, only McBride chose to cooperate with the hearing and give evidence before the panel, with Brock opting not to take time away from his new career as a greyhound trainer to attend.

McBride was disqualified for seven years, whereas Maloney, Perring and Howells have been excluded since 2020 for failing to cooperate with proceedings and will not have any appeal into that exclusion entertained by the BHA for a period of 15 years.

The panel established that none of Olley’s alleged breaches could be proven but he too has been subject to an exclusion since 2020 for failing to comply with the BHA’s investigation when it began.

The horses ridden by Brock in the three races in question have been disqualified and his own disqualification will take effect immediately.

A BHA statement on the matter read: “This welcome outcome sends a powerful message that conduct of this nature will never be tolerated in British racing.

“The conduct of the individuals found in breach in this case risked undermining confidence in our sport and flagrantly disregarded the hard work and dedication of people up and down the country who carry out their duties in good faith.

“It is vital that supporters and bettors have faith in the fairness and integrity of our sport. At the same time, participants must have absolute confidence that they are competing on a level playing field.

“We are grateful to the panel for their diligence in hearing and passing judgement on this important case.”

Energumene against Edwardstone at Ascot lost to the weather

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A mouthwatering clash between Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Energumene and Arkle victor Edwardstone will not take place this weekend after Saturday’s meeting at Ascot was abandoned due to a frozen track.

The two-mile chasing juggernauts were due to lock horns in the Grade One LK Bennett Clarence House Chase, but the Berkshire track has been unraceable since Tuesday morning.

Clerk of the course Chris Stickels announced an inspection for 4pm on Thursday to assess the prospects of racing and ultimately had no option but to call off proceedings.

He said: “There was not sufficient improvement, the track remains unraceable and given the forecast and where we are right now, there’s no chance of us being raceable for Saturday.”

Energumene winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase
Energumene winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase (David Davies/PA)

Whether the Clarence House Chase is rescheduled remains to be seen – but Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father Willie, confirmed the intention for Energumene to travel over if the race is switched to a different venue.

“If it is lost we hope it is rescheduled and the plan would still be to go over. It fits in well with his programme,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

“He’s in great form, he worked well at the Curragh on Tuesday, he worked well this morning and we’re fit and ready to rock.”

Saturday’s other high-profile fixture at Haydock is also in doubt.

Haydock was hit by snow overnight
Haydock was hit by snow overnight (Nigel French/PA)

The Merseyside venue is due to stage four Grade Two events, including The New One Unibet Hurdle and Peter Marsh Chase, but snow overnight prompted clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright to call a noon inspection on Friday to assess whether racing can go ahead.

He said: “We have had half an inch of snow overnight with a frost, so things are not looking as good as they were.

“We have called an inspection for noon tomorrow and we would need to see the snow gone by then if we are to persevere.

“It depends on which forecast you look at – on the most optimistic it’s just about feasible, but on the most pessimistic we will be beaten.”

Jumps action is also scheduled at Taunton on Saturday, with officials calling an 8am precautionary inspection on raceday.

There will be no turf racing in Britain on Friday – a fourth successive blank day – as Market Rasen called off their card following a noon inspection on Thursday.

The meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday and will have the bumper due to feature the exciting Queens Gamble carried forward. A further Ffos Las fixture has also been added to the calendar for January 23.

Destiny has Sidney Banks date at Huntingdon

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Tom Lacey has nominated the Urban Logistics Reit Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle as the next port of call for Ginny’s Destiny as he looks to tee up a shot at the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.

Having opened his hurdles account in impressive fashion at Warwick on his penultimate start, the son of Yeats was upped to Grade Two company when returning to the track for the Leamington Novices’ Hurdle last weekend.

Sent off 11-2, the seven-year-old ran a fine race to finish second, only giving way to Dan Skelton’s progressive winner Grey Dawning in the closing stages.

Although a juddering error two out did little to help his cause, Lacey believes testing ground was the main reason Ginny’s Destiny was unable to haul in the winner and is now eyeing up a run at Huntingdon on February 9, which could lead to an outing at the Cheltenham Festival a month later.

He said: “I think if the ground might have been a little bit better we might have had a different result, he just didn’t pick up on that really heavy ground.

“I think we’ll probably look at the Sidney Banks and then maybe the Coral Cup. A fast run two-mile-five Coral Cup round Cheltenham might suit him.

“He’s gone up 2lb and is 135 now. He would have got in Tea Clipper’s year (2021), but last year the lowest rated horse was 137, so I think you need to be north of 137 really to get in.”

Ginny's Destiny and connections after winning at Warwick in November
Ginny’s Destiny and connections after winning at Warwick in November (PA)

Lacey rates Ginny’s Destiny as a future chaser, but was also impressed by the way his charge rallied after his mistake at the second last in his recent outing.

“He can’t wait to jump a fence can he,” continued Lacey. “He hit the line strong and fought off the third horse having gone through the second last and flattened it. That would have stopped a lot of horses.

“I don’t see why he won’t get three miles in time, but that’s for further down the road.”

Stablemate Glory And Fortune will revert to hurdles at Newbury on February 11 as he bids to defend his Betfair Hurdle crown.

The eight-year-old struck at 20-1 in the race 12 months ago and having struggled over fences this term, returns to the smaller obstacles at the same price with the sponsors to do the double.

“The Betfair Hurdle is his target,” confirmed Lacey.

“I think we’re in danger of wasting a season if we continue over fences, so we’ll be going to the Betfair and then have a think about Cheltenham.

“It is going to be very hard for first-season novices to get into those sort of races now requiring four runs, so I think if we can get him back on track, I see no reason why he can’t be competitive.”

The Cottage Field Stables handler also provided details on the impending return of Lossiemouth, who hasn’t been seen since finishing fifth behind Stage Star in the 2021 Challow Hurdle.

Stan Sheppard riding Lossiemouth on their way to winning the Ballymore Winter Novices’ Hurdle during the Betfair Tingle Creek Festival at Sandown in 2021
Stan Sheppard riding Lossiemouth on their way to winning the Ballymore Winter Novices’ Hurdle during the Betfair Tingle Creek Festival at Sandown in 2021 (Steven Paston/PA)

Prior to that the eight-year-old had won three on the bounce over hurdles, including the Grade Two Winter Hurdle at Sandown – and with an intended race at Lingfield succumbing to the latest cold snap, the Esher track looks likely to be the venue for his reappearance.

“He’s been plagued with problems and there’s a massive team behind the scenes getting him right – farriers, physios, vets,” explained Lacey.

“He’s made of glass but on his day he’s a very good horse. He will probably go to Sandown on February 4 for £100,000 Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle.”