Digest: Moscow Flyer is reported in "great form" as he continues his build-up to another mouth-watering clash with Azertyuiop in the William Hill Tingle Creek Trophy on Saturday.
Jessica Harrington's star won the Sandown Park Grade One contest 12 months ago by four lengths from Azertyuiop. However, Paul Nicholls' charge took his revenge in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March after Moscow Flyer unseated Barry Geraghty four from home when still in contention. Moscow Flyer also unshipped his rider in the Tingle Creek two years ago but has won all his completed starts over fences.
"He's in great form," Harrington said on Sunday. "We did a bit with him on the Curragh on Friday and Barry gave him a jump earlier in the week. He'll do another bit on Tuesday and he'll travel over on Thursday." Moscow Flyer made a winning reappearance at Navan earlier this month when he gave a polished performance to beat Arctic Copper by 25 lengths in the Ballymore Properties Fortria Chase. "I hope he's come on for it. It's a natural progression having had a race and a couple of bits of work that he'll have come on, and I hope he'll arrive at Sandown in great form," added Harrington.
Geraghty had a lucky escape at Fairyhouse yesterday when he took a crashing fall on Mister Virginian at the third flight of the Joe Savage Handicap Hurdle. "He actually had a fall in the handicap hurdle off a horse of mine and he lay on the ground and I was a bit worried. But he'd just got kicked on his leg. He was fine, he walked in grand," the Co Kildare trainer said. Moscow Flyer is just shading Azertyuiop for favouritism at around 4 to 1 for the Stan James King George VI Chase. If he lined up at Kempton Park on St Stephen's Day, the 10-year-old would be tackling three miles for the first time and when asked if it was the plan to run there, Harrington said: "We'll see what happens on Saturday but the King George could be on the agenda."
Beef Or Salmon decision today
A decision on Beef Or Salmon's participation in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on Sunday is due to be made today. His trainer, Michael Hourigan, is considering a possible tilt at the Punchestown contest or the Hilly Way Chase over two miles at Cork a week later, a race he has won for the last two seasons, before he heads to the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown after Christmas when he could meet Best Mate. This country's top staying chaser has recovered from an overreach suffered when winning the James Nicholson Chase at Down Royal earlier this month. "We are going to make a decision on Punchestown tomorrow morning."
Tom Taaffe is expecting a big run from Kicking King, who was beaten three and a half lengths by Beef Or Salmon at Down Royal. "He is in great form and I am expecting a big run from him on Sunday," said Taaffe yesterday.
Total flop explained
Total Enjoyment is on the easy list after her disappointing run in the Sharp Minds Betfair Royal Bond Novice Hurdle on Sunday. Tom Cooper's mare was sent off the 5 to 4 favourite for Sunday's Grade One contest but weakened tamely approaching the second-last flight after vying for the lead from the start and finished a well-beaten sixth behind Wild Passion. A subsequent veterinary examination revealed she scoped dirty and she is now undergoing treatment.
"She's on a course of antibiotics and we'll just have to take it from there. We live to fight another day and we'll play it by ear and have a look at her around Christmas," said Cooper yesterday.
