RACING NEWS: EMMA LAVELLE blamed race-rustiness for Crack Away Jack's disappointing comeback run in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday.
The Andover trainer felt the seven-year-old found everything happening too soon in a hot contest won narrowly by Master Minded from Somersby as he trailed home last of the eight finishers.
Crack Away Jack, winner of the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival in 2008, had been sidelined with a tendon injury since he finished fourth to Petit Robin in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton in December 2009.
“He’s absolutely fine and he trotted out sound this morning. I think it all came as a shock to his system yesterday, to be honest,” said Lavelle.
“It all happened so fast. He’s come out of the race well. We got him to the races and we’ll have a discussion to see where we go with him next, but he seems absolutely fine afterwards.
“It was just they jumped off and went a million miles an hour. I think he was a little bit on the rusty side.”
Although the Tony McCoy-ridden Master Minded landed a second Victor Chandler Chase, it is fair to say the once invincible aura he had is no more.
Although the Clive Smith-owned eight-year-old lost his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown to Big Zeb in March, there appeared to be valid excuses for the defeat given he had a rib injury for most of last season and has since undergone a breathing operation.
While it may seem folly to claim a horse unbeaten in three runs is not at his best, Somersby pushed him all the way to the line. A four-length advantage at the final fence shrunk to a short head at the line, with champion trainer Paul Nicholls a relieved man.
“I was disappointed initially because turning in I thought he was going to go away and win quite nice and then I was thinking something obviously isn’t quite right with the way the horses are running,” said Nicholls.
Meanwhile, Wetherby anticipate no problems despite playing safe by calling a precautionary inspection at 8am this morning ahead of today’s meeting.
The West Yorkshire track is currently raceable and as long as the forecast is accurate then the fixture should go ahead without a hitch.
“We’d be raceable today, but we’ve got minus 1C forecast from about 3am to about 6.30am and then we’ve got plus 4C or 5C, so if that’s accurate I don’t envisage any trouble,” said clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson.
Gowran Park has rescheduled its big Connolly’s Red Mills Thyestes Chase card for a second time, with plans now in place for it to be staged next Friday.
Having originally moved from last Thursday to Saturday in the hope of beating the weather, another cold night forced officials to abandon.
There will be fresh entries for the meeting closing at noon tomorrow with declarations on Thursday.
While the feature race will revert to original entries with fresh forfeits to be made by noon tomorrow.
