TRAINER Howard Johnson gave the go ahead for Morceli to make his seasonal reappearance in the Sean Graham Chase at Ayr on Saturday - when he is expected to clash with Jodami and The Grey Monk - following a workout in semi darkness at Carlisle yesterday.
Morceli was partnered by Norman Williamson, and Johnson reported that he "went a good gallop accompanied by another horse I've just bought from Ireland for 33,000 guineas, River Unchin."
Meanwhile, Charlie Brooks will step up his defence of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup by sending Couldn't Be Better on a reconnaissance of the Newbury circuit after racing tomorrow.
The Lambourn trainer plans to work the chaser on the track as a prelude to his comeback run in the Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase at Haydock next week.
Couldn't Be Better is a 14 to 1 chance to emulate the great Arkle by winning back to back runnings of the Hennessy. But among his biggest dangers is stablemate Suny Bay, the 6 to 1 favourite.
The ground at Newbury is currently good but it will need to be soft if Suny Bay, described by Brooks as "the most over hyped horse in the country", makes the November 30th line up.
