Creek Ready For Wetherby Return

Flame Creek is on course to return to action after almost 11 months out through injury at Wetherby a week tomorrow.

The nine-year-old has made a full recovery after breaking a bone in his neck when falling at the first flight in the Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham last December.

He holds an entry at Chepstow on Saturday but is more likely to reappear in a two-mile handicap chase at the West Yorkshire track.

'I think he´ll miss Chepstow and will probably go for a 0-135 handicap chase at Wetherby the following Friday,' said Noel Chance.

'He cracked a bone in his neck when falling in the Bula Hurdle. He´s had a scan and that was OK and he´s been working well, so it´s fingers crossed.'

Flame Creek has yet to be beaten in three races over fences and he was a smart performer over hurdles winning Haydock Park´s Champion Hurdle Trial in January 2003.

Meanwhile, Chance´s smart young chaser River City is set to make his seasonal reappearance next month.

The Upper Lambourn trainer is aiming the eight-year-old, who was third to Contraband in the Arkle Trophy, at either Down Royal or Cheltenham.

'He may go to Ireland for the Grade Three race over two and a half miles that Murphy´s Cardinal won last year but I understand Watson Lake, who was impressive recently, and some other big guns may go there,' Chance went on.

'If he doesn´t go to Down Royal then he´ll go to Cheltenham´s Open meeting a week later.'

The trainer also revealed Murphy´s Cardinal, who has not raced since being pulled behind It Takes Time at Lingfield in February, is currently sidelined.

'He´s had a setback and will miss the first part of the season. He could be back around Christmas time,' added Chance.

(C) PA Sport