Gifford has options for Markham

Josh Gifford is eyeing the Stg£50,000 Tote Scoop6 Sandown Handicap Hurdle for Mr Markham on Saturday but he has not ruled out switching the 10-year-old to the Agfa Hurdle on the same programme at the Esher track.

The first-named event is over two miles and six furlongs, while the latter is over an extended two miles.

'He is almost certain to run in the handicap, and is certain to run in one or the other,' the trainer said today.

'If it rained all night, I might think about the two-miler rather than drag him over two mile six in heavy old ground.

'And it all depends if the weights look like going up.

'If he was going to carry 11st 10lb or 11-8 in the handicap, I might think about the two-mile but the prize-money is very good in the other one so I think he`ll probably go for that.'

Mr Markham appeared to be rejuvenated by wearing blinkers for the first time on his latest start at Kempton two weeks ago when he landed a two-mile five furlongs handicap by eight lengths from Oliver Cromwell.

'I can`t take them off can I,' quipped Gifford.

Heavy ground would rule out two other Gifford horses from their intended engagements on Saturday - Red Guard from the Weatherbys Scilly Isles Novices` Chase at Sandown and Silver Streak from the Racehorse In A Box Novices` Chase at Wetherby.

'I don`t think, if the weather forecast is right, that Silver Streak would go all the way up there if it`s going to be a bog. There`s no point, so it`s very unlikely. He hates the mud,' said the Findon handler.

'And it`s the same with Red Guard. I would run him on good to soft, but I wouldn`t run him if it came up very muddy.'