Channel 4 to show Trouble comeback

Armchair race fans will be able to watch Looks Like Trouble`s eagerly awaited comeback race at Wincanton on Channel 4 - but bosses warned today that it may not be shown live.

The company claimed 'scheduling difficulties' meant that it was possible there could still be problems squeezing the Highclere Group Of Companies John Bull Chase into a live slot.

Channel 4 has been criticised this week for apparently being reluctant to juggle its planned broadcasts from Kempton and Catterick to fit in coverage of the return to action of the 2000 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.

Officials at Wincanton, who have switched the meeting from a quiet Thursday to a more lucrative Saturday, were unwilling to stage the race as the first event on the card.

It has, however, been moved from its scheduled third-race spot to become the second at 2.15pm. If any races divide, they will not alter the time slot of that race.

Channel 4 head of sport David Kerr said today: 'Despite scheduling difficulties, we will be taking in pictures of the Looks Like Trouble race from Wincanton.

'We hope to bring it to you live but the proximity of the 2.05 at Kempton isn`t ideal and it would have been much better to have been able to adjust timings to avoid a potential clash of races.

'It`s essential that, in the future, we have more flexibility with race timings, particularly if the attheraces channel, which will have an even busier schedule, is to be a success.'