Ball ready to start off in America Former British chaser Hunt Ball is due to make his debut at Saratoga this evening in the AP Smethwick Memorial Chase. The eight-year-old won eight of his 17 chases when owned by Anthony Knott and was recently sold to race in the States in a private sale. The 2012 Cheltenham Festival winner is now trained by Jonathan Sheppard and among his rivals will be two other horses that are known to British racing fans in Meganisi and Demonstrative. Although the gelding surprised many when rising up the handicap from a lowly mark of 69 to championship class, his new trainer downplayed a likelihood of a fairytale success on his American bow. Sheppard told DRF: "I don't think he's got quite the speed to win a big race going 2 1/16 miles going around such a tight track... But he does have a lot of stamina and the main thing Thursday is to get a race under him, get a handle on him, and get a tune up for the New York Turf Writers, which is 2 3/8 miles and should suit him better." The race is due off at 1335 local time (1835 BST) and the morning line compilers rated the "entry" of Divine Fortune and Italian Wedding as the 9/5 favourites on their tissue.
