Graphic Equaliser is hard to oppose in today's Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury after his four and a half length win in the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown last month.
The gelding was having his first outing for Arthur Moore when finishing seventh to Arctic Weather in a limited handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse at the end of November, losing his place with a bad blunder at the second-last and not knocked about thereafter.
On paper that was not the performance to give him the look of a handicap snip in The Ladbroke. But he was backed down to 5 to 1 favourite and did not let his supporters down, recording an emphatic success.
The ground is likely to be faster than it was at Leopardstown, and Newbury is a more galloping track, but Graphic Equaliser is fancied to beat compatriot Commanche Court. Remarkably, the race includes five Irish-trained runners.
Unlucky Irish jockey Brian Harding was struck by a fresh injury blow yesterday that leaves him in danger of missing the Cheltenham Festival. Harding sustained a suspected broken left collar-bone after Tanseeq crashed at the second last in the Bermans Handicap Hurdle at Bangor. The jockey only returned to action in mid-December after 12 months on the sidelines because of head injuries sustained in a fall at Newcastle.
