Garden On Course For Ayr Return Monet´s Garden, conqueror of ace novice chaser Darkness on his fencing debut at Ayr, is set to reappear at the Scottish track later this month. The Nicky Richards-trained grey was a smart performer over hurdles and wasted no time in showing he had talent over the bigger obstacles with a nine-length defeat of Charlie Egerton´s runner in November. Darkness has gone on to frank the form by winning his next three starts culminating in the Grade One Feltham Chase at Sandown on Boxing Day. 'He is grand and is coming along well. Hopefully he´ll run at Ayr on January 23 and we will then take it from there,' the Penrith-based handler told Racing UK. 'It is very nice to see the form going the right way but Darkness had an off day when we beat him. 'We know we have a nice horse, though, and we will get him back on the track and hopefully have a good spring with him. 'He may come back to Ayr about three weeks later for a two and a half miler and we will then make a decision about whether to go to Cheltenham or wait for Aintree, or whatever we are going to do. 'To get the best out of him I think he wants a good racing surface but he wouldn´t run on firm ground or anything.'(C) PA Sport
