Marlborough could return at Newbury

Sir Robert Ogden`s racing manager Barry Simpson says that Marlborough is 60% certain to line up for the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

The 10-year-old was due to run in the Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham last month but was pulled out at the last moment due to the testing conditions.

The ground at Newbury was heavy at the beginning of the week and there were worries that Marlborough may have to miss out again.

But Simpson walked the Berkshire track today and declared afterwards that the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup hopeful may take his place in the field.

He said: 'I was pleasantly surprised that the ground was not as bad as I thought it might be. I would say it is soft but heavy in a few places and if it stays like that then its 60-40 in favour of Marlborough running.

'I will have to speak to his trainer Nick Henderson and Sir Robert about it but we are quickly running out of options with the horse as the Cheltenham Festival is getting closer all the time.

'We could wait until the Jim Ford Chase at Wincanton 12 days later but that could easily be run on soft and testing ground and would come much too close to Cheltenham.'

Simpson also confirmed that the Paul Nicholls-trained Fadalko will run in the Game Spirit Chase on the same card.

The eight-year-old`s last run was in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day when he seemed to struggle to get the three-mile trip and Simpson is hoping for an improved performance this time out.

He said: 'The plan is to run at Newbury as a pre-race for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham. He seems well in himself and always seems to come to hand at this time of year.'

Conditions at Newbury have improved since the beginning of the week and clerk of the course Richard Osgood says the track is drying out well.

He said: 'The ground at the moment is heavy, soft in places. It`s got better.

'We had a dry day yesterday and it`s that much better that we decided to change the going but it`s certainly going to be on the soft side.

'We have got a little bit of rain but not much forecast for the the rest of today and between five to seven millimetres tomorrow.'