RACING: Ante-post favourite Holy Orders has been cut to 7 to 2 from 5 to 1 by the sponsors for the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday. The five-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, is also that price with Coral for the £100,000 Showcase Handicap after 28 horses were confirmed at yesterday's five-day stage.
Mullins, who sent out Be My Royal to lift the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury recently, also has Czar Of Peace (9-8) and Milkat (9-8) in the extended two-mile contest. Heading the weights is Polar Red, winner of the Sunderlands Imperial Cup at Sandown in March. His trainer Martin Pipe is responsible for the first three in the handicap with Puntal (11-11) and Mr Cool (11-9). The Nicholashayne handler has two other possibles, his five-strong team being completed by Bernardon (10-9) and Idaho d'Ox (10-3). Puntal was the best backed of the quintet being trimmed to 7 to 1 from 8 to 1 with Ladbrokes.
Jonjo O'Neill says that Giocomo, a winner at Chepstow earlier this month, may take his chance. But the Jackdaws Castle trainer added that his exciting prospect Rhinestone Cowboy would not be in action in the Gerrard Wealth Management Novices' Hurdle at Ascot on Friday following a second success over hurdles at Cheltenham last Friday.
Irish interest is well represented at Musselburgh this afternoon with Michael Grassick and Charlie Swan both having runners. Curragh trainer Grassick runs two and his Moore's Law, third at Cheltenham last time, will be ridden by Swan, as will Curragh scorer Sky To Sea. The former champion jumps jockey dons his trainer's cap when he saddles Autumn Stroll in the bumper.
Jim Culloty has lodged an appeal to the Jockey Club in the hope of being able to partner Best Mate in the King George VI Chase on St Stephen's Day. He is set to miss the ride on the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner after being stood down on December 26th, 27th and 28th by the Doncaster stewards for not riding out Beechwood for third place in a bumper race.
Ladbroke Hurdle betting: Ladbrokes: 7-2 Holy Orders, 7-1 Puntal, 12-1 True Blue Victory, Valerio, 14-1 Under The Sand, Santenay, Whistling Dixie, 16-1 Anxious Moments, Atlantic Rhapsody, Benbyas, Chauvinist, Deep Sunset, Haditovski, In Contrast, Milkat, Moving On Up, Giocomo, Polar Red, Samon, Westender, 20-1 bar.
