Venturi on hunter trail Vic Venturi warms up for possible tilts at hunter chases at Cheltenham and Aintree with a run at Leopardstown on Sunday. The 12-year-old takes on 16 rivals in the Raymond Smith Memorial Hunters Chase, on the back of wins in two Irish point-to-points. Trainer Dessie Hughes has the John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase at Aintree in April as the gelding's main objective. "This will be the start of him getting ready for Aintree. He may run at Cheltenham first in the Foxhunter Chase there," said the County Kildare handler. "The Fox Hunters' at Aintree will be his main aim, but we'll see how he goes on Sunday." Tony Martin is looking forward to saddling Saddlers Storm and Northern Alliance in the three-mile heat. "They are two old horses we've had a few years now and they are ready to go on Sunday," said the County Meath trainer.
