Ascot again for Hope The former Willie Browne-trained Dundalk winner American Hope will return to Ascot on Qipco British Champions Day in pursuit of faster ground after heavy rain forced his withdrawal from the Challenge Cup on Saturday. Mike Murphy's impressive handicapper had been quietly fancied for the valuable weekend prize, but he was taken out at the 11th hour once the going went soft. American Hope will now be trained with the intention of running in the one-mile Balmoral Handicap on October 18. Bedfordshire-based Murphy said: "He's worth waiting for when he gets proper ground. "We'll come back for the Balmoral when the ground will hopefully be better. "It was a shame he missed out - he looked to have an obvious chance - but we live to fight another day."
