Dempsey Set For Big Chandler Run

Mark Pitman is hopeful of a 'big run' from his stable star Dempsey in today´s Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham.

Prominent in the ante-post betting for the race since the weights were published after a fine win at Sandown, Dempsey has been showing Pitman all the right signs at home.

'Everything has gone fine with him,' said the trainer.

'The horse looks a picture, he schooled well earlier in the week and I couldn´t be happier with him.

'I think he ticks a lot of the right boxes for the race. The ground should be ideal, the trip is ideal, we´re in there with a nice weight - all are positives really.

'The only question mark is if he handles the track.'

There had been speculation that Dempsey wasn´t at his best on left-handed tracks, but Pitman was quick to defend his eight-year-old

'People say he doesn´t act left-handed but he has only been that way round three times, two of those were in bumpers and he was struck into both times, then he was third behind Ashley Brook at Aintree.

'I don´t think it´s going to be a problem.

'He´s a beautiful moving horse, which is why I think the better ground will suit. He´s got a high cruising speed and we are expecting a big run.'

Heading the weights in the race is the admirable Mister McGoldrick, one of two runners for trainer Sue Smith, although stable jockey Dominic Elsworth is riding 10-year-old Town Crier for owner Trevor Hemmings.

'Dominic usually rides Trevor´s horses, so that´s why Richard Johnson is on Mister McGoldrick,' Smith explained.

'We don´t have an awful lot of options for Town Crier and that´s why he is taking his chance. But he is very well at the moment.

'Mister McGoldrick is very well, he came out of last weekend OK and we are hopeful he can run a big race despite his weight.

'He doesn´t mind his racing, he seems to keep his form throughout the season and the likely better ground should help him carry his weight. But he does go well in the soft.

'Both of them have entries in the Queen Mother so we´ll see how they go before we make any further plans.'

Mark Rimell is hoping Oneway can bounce back to form after a dismal showing at Wetherby last time behind Mister McGoldrick, which his trainer puts down to the desperate conditions.

If the nine-year-old runs a big race his target will be the Queen Mother once more in which he ran a fine race to be fourth to Moscow Flyer last season.

'The Queen Mother looks a lot more open than it did last year,' said Rimell. 'And he wouldn´t have to improve much from his run in it last year to hold every chance.

'Saying that, he has got to put up a better show than he did at Wetherby. I was delighted with him at Sandown when he travelled well but the lack of a racecourse gallop just found him out in the soft ground.

'The ground at Wetherby on his last run was desperate, sticky ground and he just couldn´t go in it. I won a race in heavy ground on him so he does go on it but that day was the worst I´ve ever seen.

'He´s had two runs now, the better ground should help and the yard is in better form so we are hopeful he will run very well.

'It´s his first run back in a handicap since the last of his five wins and apart from Wetherby he hasn´t performed too bad in graded company and if he´s back to his best he must have every chance.'

? PA Sport