Monet's Set For Sandown

Monet's Garden is likely to give Saturday's totesport.com Peterborough Chase a miss, but the Huntingdon feature could still be given a boost by the presence of the exciting Aces Four.

Nicky Richards' grey, who defeated Kauto Star on his seasonal reappearance at Aintree, is more likely to contest the Paddy Power Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown next month.

Plans are uncertain for a number of big-name horses with engagements over the weekend, which has had the same effect on likely jockey bookings.

Richards said: 'It hasn't yet been decided, but we are starting to lean towards the Tingle Creek a little bit. I need to have a talk to the owner and just have a think about things first.'

While Kauto Star will be at Haydock for the Betfair Chase, the rain falling at the Merseyside track is starting to become a concern to connections of Aces Four.

'It's purely ground dependent,' explained David Parry, who runs Aces Four's group of owners, The DPRP Aces Partnership.

'We would prefer to run at Haydock, but they have had a lot of rain there this week and it is already good to soft.

'If it continues to go that way, I would say he would be running at Huntingdon.'

The Ferdy Murphy-trained Aces Four was giving Denman a real race before he nearly fell at the third last of the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham but swiftly made amends with victory at Aintree last season.

He has been out already this term, pulling up in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby but still shaping encouragingly.

Parry continued: 'Most of Ferdy's tend to need their first run and he came out of the race pretty well.

'He's been working nicely since, but as we've believed since the summer, his first big target will be the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.'

As Graham Lee will ride the chestnut, Henrietta Knight has been left searching for another jockey for Racing Demon, who won last year's Peterborough with the Irishman on board.

The Wantage trainer uses a variety of jockeys for her horses these days, but other preferred pilots like Sam Thomas, Tony McCoy and Timmy Murphy are also almost certainly unavailable.

Knight has booked others like Denis O'Regan and Paul Moloney this season, but said: 'I'm afraid I have no news at this stage.'

Yes Sir, who holds entries in three big chases on Saturday, is another set for Huntingdon.

Trainer Peter Bowen has yet to make a final decision but the Grade Two event is looking the favoured option followed by the Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot, with the Betfair Chase being ruled out.

'I don't know at the moment, but it will probably be Huntingdon. We'll see what's likely to run,' said the Haverfordwest-based handler.

'Yes Sir is in good form and he'll definitely go to either Huntingdon or Ascot - it will be one or the other.

Bowen has been partially swayed by the distances of the races. The Peterborough and the Amlin are both around two and a half miles while the Betfair Chase is over three.

'I would say about two and a half is his trip,' Bowen went on.

'He runs a bit too free to get three miles. He would probably get further if he settled, but he likes to bowl along in front, so I don't think he gets three miles.'

Tom O'Brien has partnered Yes Sir in his last seven races and Bowen hopes he will take the ride again.

'It will be Tom if he's available,' Bowen confirmed.

(C) PA Sport