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Racing News |
Twiston-Davies Considering Wetherby Specialist Ollie Magern for Rowland Meyrick
18/12/09
After suffering heartbreak in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase, Ollie Magern is set to return to Wetherby for the Grade Three coral.co.uk Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase, highlight of the first day of the Coral Christmas Meeting on Boxing Day, Saturday, December 26.
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The evergreen 11-year-old ran his usual brave race on his seasonal return for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies at the West Yorkshire course on October 31, making most of the running before being collared near the line by subsequent Peterborough Chase victor Deep Purple and Tamarinbleu.
He was fifth behind Nozic in last year’s Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase but posted excellent performances on his three previous visits to Wetherby, finding only State Of Play a length too strong in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase last season and scoring in the same race in both 2007 and 2005. He also triumphed in the Grade Two Towton Novices’ Chase in February, 2005.
Twiston-Davies reported today: “Ollie Magern will definitely be entered in the coral.co.uk Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase. He also holds an entry in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on the same day and we will have a look at the potential fields before making any final decision.
“If it looks like there is only going to be a few horses willing to take Kauto Star on at Kempton, then he could go there on Boxing Day, but he’s obviously got some very good form at Wetherby and he has gone down a few pounds since last year’s race.
“I thought that he ran a superb race in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase. You always want your horses to win but he was beaten by two decent horses and the form looks pretty good with Deep Purple going on to win at Huntingdon.
“We have kept him fresh for Boxing Day and he looks in good nick. Ideally, it’s a question of the faster the ground, the better, but we have to deal with it and I am hopeful that he can run his usual brave race wherever he goes.”
The coral.co.uk Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase was first run in 1957 boasts an outstanding roll of honour with the likes of subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Forgive’ N Forget (1984) and The Thinker (1986) among the previous winners, while Yahoo, famously runner-up to Desert Orchid in the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup, scored in 1987.
In recent years, Ferdy Murphy has won the three mile, one furlong contest, with Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Truckers Tavern (2004) and Leading Man (2006), while last year saw reigning champion trainer Paul Nicholls land his first coral.co.uk Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase with Nozic.
The feature contest at Wetherby on Sunday, December 27, is the £23,000 coral.co.uk Castleford Handicap Chase over two miles. A handicap for horses rated up to 150, last year’s race went to the Howard Johnson-trained Santa’s Son while Calatagan was the successful horse in both 2006 and 2007.
GROUND
The ground is currently soft, although following heavy snowfall overnight on Thursday, the track is covered with snow.
Wetherby Racecourse Chief Executive, Jonjo Sanderson, said: “Like most parts of the country, we have been hit by heavy snowfall and the track is completely covered at present. The forecast is for further heavy snow and minus temperatures over the weekend and into early next week.
“We did manage to get our frost covers down on the vulnerable areas, such as the take-offs and landings and in front of the Millennium Stand, before the snow came so hopefully they will help the ground.
“We will reassess the situation in the early part of next week to see if there is any merit in putting our protective fleece over the entire track. However, that requires the snow to melt first.
“Badges and tickets are still selling fast, so hopefully the weather conditions will ease next week and we can all look forward to a fantastic Coral Christmas Meeting.”
Admission Prices (December 26 & 27): Premier Enclosure £27, Paddock Enclosure £16, Pick of the Paddock £21 (includes admission to the Paddock Enclosure, £4 Refreshment Voucher, £2 Tote Betting Voucher and Racecard), Pick of the Premier £38 (includes admission to the Premier Enclosure, 2 x £4 Refreshment Voucher, 2 x £2 Tote Betting Voucher and Racecard).
