GEOS HEADS TOTE TROPHY WEIGHTS Last year`s winner Geos heads the weights released today for the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury next month. Nicky Henderson`s Bula and Christmas Hurdle victor has been allotted 12st in the February 10th contest which has attracted a total of 81 entries. The Seven Barrows trainer, who also saddled Sharpical to win the race three years ago, has Hidebound (10st 6lb), Grecian Dart (10st 5lb), Leading Light (9st 5lb), Perfect Value (9st 2lb) and Captain Miller (8st 12lb) in the #100,000 handicap as well. Martin Pipe has a strong hand in the race he landed with subsequent Champion Hurdle winner Make A Stand in 1997. Make A Stand (11st 1lb), who because of injury has raced only once in the last two seasons, is one of 16 entries for the champion trainer, which also include Auetaler (11st 5lb), Mr Cool (10st 12lb) and Valiramix (10st 6lb). Francois Doumen`s Bounce Back (11st 4lb) is the only French entry while there are 16 from Ireland with the Pat Hughes-trained Topacio the highest rated on 10st 4lb. Champion Hurdle runner-up Hors La Loi III is second top weight on 11st 11lb. Last year`s Imperial Cup winner Magic Combination has been given 9st 4lb. The eight-year-old left Barney Curley`s yard in October and is now with Scottish trainer Len Lungo. However, Magic Combination is not certain to be in the line up for the Tote Gold Trophy. 'Magic Combination has schooled brilliantly over fences so far,' revealed Lungo. 'Four times he has gone down a line of fences and he has been very good and very quick and maybe we`ll go down the novice chase route with him. 'He ran over hurdles and was fairly useful and then ran on the Flat so we have given him a holiday. 'He is best suited by good ground so we haven`t rushed with him. We didn`t want to sicken him on heavy ground in the winter. 'We`ll find something for him in February and if all went well we would make an entry for him in the Arkle Challenge Trophy.' Lungo also has Mirjan (9st 9lb) entered at Newbury. 'Mirjan at the moment doesn`t seem to have trained on,' said the Carrutherstown trainer. 'Obviously had a few hard races in the Triumph Hurdle and then back to Cheltenham where he won a seven-grand race before going flat out to win the Swinton at Haydock. 'He had a terrific season but has gone up in the weights. 'If the top two didn`t run at Newbury then the weights would go up and Mirjan would just get in. 'I think he would jump a fence as well.'Tote betting: 6-1 Mr Cool, 8-1 Master Tern, Valiramix, 10-1 Landing Light, 12-1 Hulysse Royal, Seebald, 14-1 Geos, Grinkov, Happy Change, Rooster Booster, The Gatherer, 16-1 Clifton Fox, Dhaudeloup, Milligan, Mr Lamb, Seixo Branco, The French Furze, 20-1 Auetaler, Back On Top, Bounce Back, Copeland, Hit And Run, Hors La Loi III, Magic Combination, Masalarian, Reiziger, Rodock, Saddler`s Bay, Scarlet Pimpernel, Torso.
