Christie's big guns being readied for spring campaigns Davy Christie is waiting for better ground for Vaucelet ahead of a crack at the Hunters' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March. The Authorized gelding has won five races under rules including the Champion Hunters Chase at Stratford in May, in addition to three races 'between the flags'. He gave reigning Cheltenham Hunter's Chase winner Billaway a fright in second in the Champion Hunters Steeplechase at Punchestown in April when a mistake at the last spoiled his chance. The seven-year-old made his seasonal reappearance in a point-to-point at Portrush last month where he justified odds-on favouritism. Christie said: “Vaucelet is cantering away, but we are a bit concerned about the ground at the moment. He’ll have to run somewhere and, if it dried up, he may come out at Christmas to get the run. “He’s a big, tall horse and needs nice ground to be at his best." Christie's Winged Leader was caught on the line in Cheltenham by Billaway and this prolific-winning hunter chaser is also being primed for a big spring campaign. The trainer said: “Winged Leader is just cantering away and may come out at Christmas, but it wouldn’t worry me as we are looking at a spring campaign. I’m not going to rush anything. They are hard to get and easy to get rid of these horses. “The big targets are all in the springtime. Vaucelet’s target will definitely be Cheltenham and Winged Leader is more likely in Aintree.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee
