WINCANTON TEMPTS STARS Tote Gold Cup third favourite Marlborough could warm up for Cheltenham in the Jim Ford Chase at Wincanton on Thursday, it emerged today. Connections are worried the gelding could have too hard a race if he takes up his original option of next Saturday`s Racing Post Chase at Kempton, where he is likely to have to carry top-weight in a competitive handicap. The Jim Ford is a conditions event, in which Marlborough would meet all bar four of the 14 entries at level weights. The Nicky Henderson-trained gelding, impressive winner of a handicap at Cheltenham in December on his only outing so far this season, is 7-1 third favourite for the Gold Cup with Ladbrokes.Owner Robert Ogden also has fellow Gold Cup entry Ad Hoc in the Jim Ford, though the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding`s progress has been hindered by jumping errors. Simpson said: 'He is only an entry at this stage but he has made good progress and we are looking at options. If he is going to go to Cheltenham he needs to run somewhere. But he won`t run in the Gold Cup, we are looking at one of the handicaps.' Grand National hope The Toiseach is also in the Stg£25,000-added event but is unlikely to make the line-up. Hors La Loi III was today given the go-ahead to bid to redeem his reputation on the same card. He will aim for a repeat win in the Axminster (formerly Kingwell) Hurdle, which he took 12 months ago before going on to finish second in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle. The gelding has since left Francois Doumen and been pulled up in two outings for James Fanshawe, who ran several tests on him after his flop in the Agfa Hurdle on very soft ground at Sandown last time out. Hors La Loi III is a 25-1 chance with Ladbrokes for the Champion Hurdle, in which he went down by just four lengths to Istabraq last year. Hitman (14-1) and Grimes (25-1) are other leading Champion hurdle hopes among 12 entries for the Axminster. But Hors La Loi III is unlikely to face a rematch with Agfa winner Teaatral. 'He is almost certain to go to Kempton on Friday for the Rendlesham Hurdle instead,' said Teaatral`s trainer Charlie Egerton. Others in the Rendlesham include 1999 Stayers` Hurdle winner Anzum and useful chaser Red Marauder.
