BARTON HEADS CHAMPION TRIAL ENTRIES

Barton heads the 10 entries revealed today for the Red Square And Red Alert Energising Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock Park on Saturday.

Tim Easterby`s eight-year-old lost his unbeaten record over timber when an eight-length second to Geos in the Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.

Barton is a 12-1 chance with Coral for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle and connections will be hoping he boosts his Cheltenham claims on Saturday.

The Sir Stan Clarke-owned gelding could face two Irish rivals with Christy Roche planning to send both Aerleon Pete and Youlneverwalkalone over for the #28,000-added contest.

Other interesting entries include Martin Pipe`s trio of Mr Cool, Seebald and The French Furze as well as the Mark Pitman-trained novice Hitman.

Mary Reveley has already confirmed October Mist on course for the Haydock race.

There are a total of 17 entries for the #45,000 Bet Direct Peter Marsh Chase on the same card including last year`s winner The Last Fling and General Wolfe successful in the three-mile contest in 1998 and 1999 but not seen out since being pulled up behind Eulogy in that season`s Whitbread Gold Cup.

Mark Gichero for General Wolfe`s owners The Winning Line said: 'The horse was retired after his last race. We felt he was badly handicapped and not qualified for hunter chases and he picked up an injury which made our minds up.

'But he didn`t like being retired so we brought him back into training with Venetia Williams in October and the horse has thrived.

'Venetia rode him in a piece of work at the weekend and he went well.

'At the moment he looks a probable runner at his favourite track.

'We made this race his target because he loves Haydock.'

Nicky Henderson has entered his Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Marlborough and Peter Beaumont intends running his Tommy Whittle Chase winner Bobby Grant, who finished second in last year`s Peter Marsh.

Anzum, winner of the Stayers` Hurdle at the 1999 Cheltenham Festival, is set toreappear in the Tote Credit Club Premier Hurdle.

The Richard Phillips-trained 10-year-old has not been seen out since finishing third to Behrajan in the Haydock race 12 months ago.