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Rowland Meyrick Chase |
Aleron Set to Line Up in skybet.com Rowland Meyrick
Chase
21/12/07
John Quinn is set to run Aleron in the £50,000 Grade Three skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (1.25pm), run over three miles and a furlong, at Wetherby on Boxing Day, Wednesday December 26, the first day of the West Yorkshire track’s two-day Sky Bet Christmas meeting.
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The talented nine-year-old was second behind Harmony Brig in the Listed
Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle on December 1 and Malton-based Quinn may
continue to race his gelding in handicap company, despite reservations
about Aleron’s current chase mark.
Quinn said: “Aleron will be entered for the skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day. I was pleased with his run in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle, but the handicapper has put him up five pounds for finishing second, which is nearly a penalty.”
Having ended last season finishing sixth in the Grade Two Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr in April, Aleron has been kept busy since and the nine-year-old was a game winner of a competitive handicap chase at Market Rasen on November 11.
Quinn is anticipating another good performance if Aleron takes his chance
in the skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Chase, and the trainer hopes that a
return to Wetherby will suit his gelding.
Quinn commented: “He always runs his race and is paying for his consistency. He’s been round Wetherby three times before and won a novice hurdle there (in November 2004), so the course will be no problem for him, but we wouldn’t want the ground to be heavy.”
The skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Chase is the 21st race in the Order of
Merit series, and is always contested by some of the season’s top
staying chasers. Last season’s renewal was won by the Ferdy Murphy-trained
Leading Man, who is set return to defend his crown this year.
Other recent winners include Gunner Welburn, who triumphed in 2003 having
finished fourth in that year’s Grand National, and the 2003 Cheltenham
Gold Cup runner-up Truckers Tavern, who captured the skybet.com Rowland
Meyrick Chase in 2004.
The second day of the Sky Bet Christmas meeting, on Thursday, December
27, includes the £30,000 skybet.com Castleford Chase (3.05pm),
run over an extended two miles, which reverted to handicap status last
season and was won by Calatagan, trained near Malton by Malcolm Jefferson.
The ground at Wetherby is currently good to soft, good in places, and rails will be moved so that the Sky Bet Christmas meeting will be run on fresh ground.
While the Premier Enclosure has nearly sold out, there is still good availability for all of Wetherby’s other enclosures. Gates open to the public at 10am on both days, and there will be complimentary mulled wine and mince pies for the ‘early birds’ on Boxing Day.
Advance bookings can be purchased at www.wetherbyracing.co.uk or by phoning 01937 582 035.
Admission Prices (December 26 & 27): Premier Enclosure £27, Paddock Enclosure £16, Pick of the Paddock £20 (includes admission to the Paddock Enclosure, £3 Refreshment Voucher, £2 Tote Betting Voucher and Racecard - must be booked in advance), Course Enclosure £5, Cars into the Course Enclosure (including four adults) £17, Accompanied Children under 16 FREE, Car Parking FREE.
Leading Man To Bid For Repeat Victory in skybet.com
Rowland Meyrick Chase
19/12/07
Ferdy Murphy is confident that the classy Leading Man can return to winning ways in the £50,000 Grade Three skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase. ... [more]
