City leads McManus attack City Slicker spearheads a three-strong challenge on The Ladboke at Ascot tomorrow from leading owner JP McManus. The familiar green and gold colours will also be carried by the British pair Alaivan and Vulcanite, but the hat-trick-seeking City Slicker, a winner for Willie Mullins at Punchestown on his last two starts, will be the mount of retained rider Tony McCoy. McManus's racing manager Frank Berry said: "The handicapper hasn't taken any chances (with City Slicker), but Willie is happy with him. It looks like he's better going right-handed, so let's hope he can be competitive in a very competitive race. "Alaivan has had his problems, which is why he was off for over two and a half years, but he ran well to a point at Wetherby last time before getting tired. Hopefully he'll come on for that run. "Vulcanite was very disappointing in Sandown the last day and we didn't find any reason for it, so we'll just have to see how he runs." Joining City Slicker on the trip from Ireland is Gordon Elliott's Flaxen Flare, who boasts strong form in similar big-field handicaps. The four-year-old won the Fred Winter in the spring, was second in the Galway Hurdle in the summer and was fourth in the Greatwood last month. Elliott said: "He's in good form and we're just hoping they don't get too much rain as he's a better horse on better ground. We're happy with him at home and hopefully if the ground is all right he'll have a good each-way chance."
