Velvet Elvis 'in good shape' ahead of Tommy Whittle bid The John McConnell-trained Velvet Elvis will carry topweight in the Betfred Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock on Saturday with fellow Irish raider Brucejack also among the 12 declared for the extended 3m1f event. Velvet Elvis has won five times under Rules and over €120,000 in prizemoney and finished second to Nick Rockett in the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran back in January. The nine-year-old only joined McConnell over the summer and was pulled up on his reappearance in the ‘Troytown’ at Navan last month, but the Stamullen trainer is hopeful of a better showing at Haydock. “He has 12.2 in the Tommy Whittle, so we will probably claim off him. He's in good shape. “He's still high in the handicap, he was second in the Thyestes last year for Gavin (Cromwell) off 141, and he is still higher than that. Not ideally handicapped for this assignment. What do you do, you have to run them. “He's also one we might consider cross country races for because of that rating. If he took to it, he could be competitive.” Velvet Elvis holds an entry in the €200,000 Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown on December 27 and McConnell also has Hartur D’arc and No Time To Wait in that three-mile event. “I'll have one or two in the Paddy Power, I'd say. Hopefully, they will all improve for their last runs. Velvet Elvis and Hartur D'arc had a long time off, so they will definitely improve for the runs.” Additional reporting by Michael Graham
