CUMBRIAN Challenge, who last Saturday at Doncaster took his prize money earning over jumps through the £100,000 barrier, returns to his favourite Wetherby course tomorrow in a bid to add to his admirable record.
No fewer than eight of the gelding's 14 successes have been gained at Wetherby, and the Marston Moor Handicap Chase offers this course specialist the chance to increase his tally.
Cumbrian Challenge, trained at Great Habton by Tim Easterby, snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Doncaster when getting up in the driving strides to collar Down The Fell after making uncharacteristic errors at two of the last three fences.
Lorcan Wyer, who knows him so well, and who rode a masterly race to win on him last Saturday, again partners Cumbrian Challenge tomorrow.
Among the nine-year-old's rivals is his own stable-mate Scotton Banks, a Grand National entry. But this gelding, off the track for 12 months with injury, is likely to need this comeback outing over a distance short of this best.
Wyer and Easterby can also lift the Spofforth Handicap Hurdle with nap selection Scotton Green, who is chasing a hat-trick after wins here and at Ayr last Saturday.
Celestial Choir bids to complete a hat-trick of wins over fences in the Skipton Novices' Chase before heading to the Cheltenham for a crack at the Cathcart Chase.
Les Eyre's wonderful mare, previously successful on the Flat and over hurdles has taken well to the major obstacles and has recorded successes at Carlisle and Newcastle. It will take a good one to lower her colours in the hands of Brian Storey.
The £14,000 Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle looks best left to French Holly, impressive winner of all his three races this season.
Trained at Middleham by Ferdy Murphy, this high-class gelding is one of the north's main hopes for the prestigious Cheltenham Festival meeting next month.
In the Rievaulx Handicap Hurdle, it will take a brave man to overlook the claims of Once More For Luck, winner of his last three races, and still fairly weighted. Graham Lee has the mount on Mary Reveley's in-form gelding.
Tomorrow's televised action comes from Uttoxeter and Sandown, where Jack Doyle will be hard to beat in the £33,000 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase.
A much improved horse since joining Nigel Twiston-Davies, Jack Doyle has won both his starts for his new trained and was mightily impressive at Cheltenham a week ago.
The classy Shadow Leader will be a tough nut to crack in the Agfa Hurdle, while prolific winner Cool Down makes plenty of appeal in the £30,000 Agfa Diamond Chase. As for the £40,000 Tote Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle, look no further than Martin Pipe's big Stand after his excellent comeback run at Kempton recently.
The feature event at Uttoxeter is the £50,000 Singer & Friedlander National Trial and this three and a half miles stamina test should be ideal for Him Of Praise.
Oliver Sherwood's eight-year-old is unbeaten in four races this season and ran out an ultra-game winner of a valuable long distance handicap at Sandown last time. Staying is most certainly his game.
Tim Easterby's Dally Boy, is gradually coming to hand and should not be overlooked in the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle, while a 10 weeks break may not prevent the highly-regarded Strong Chairman from ruling the roost in the Doncaster Bloodstock Sales Breeders' Trophy Novices' Handicap Chase.
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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