Collonges Set For Chepstow

Norma Macauley is to have a rare jumping representative in one of the season's biggest races with Heros Collonges set to line up in the Coral Welsh National on December 27.

The Melton Mowbray trainer is better known for her runners on the Flat, particularly the all-weather, and prefers to stay away from the National Hunt action but has made an exception on this occasion.

Originally from France, Heros Collonges performed with credit on several occasions for Paul Nicholls, winning the 2005 Country Gentlemen's Association Chase, but showed little on his seasonal reappearance back at Wincanton when pulling up in October's Desert Orchid Silver Cup.

'I've just confirmed his entry for the Welsh National,' said Macauley.

'I've had him since a week after Wincanton ? Paul Nicholls said he needed a change of scene, and one of his owners has been with me for years and another of the owners is my son.

'I have trained jumpers before, but I don't like seeing horses getting hurt. But I do like what I see in him now.

'We'll just have to see how he gets on, as they do say he's better going over the Grand National fences at Aintree.

'If he's OK, we would look at the Grand National, but I think he'd have to win a race to get in it now.'

(C) PA Sport