LATE DECISION ON SANDOWN ROUTE A decision on Direct Route`s participation in Saturday`s Mitsubishi Shogun Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown will be left until the last minute, trainer Howard Johnson revealed today. The gelding, winner of this race in 1998 and second to Flagship Uberalles 12 months` ago, has had his preparation held up in recent weeks. The nine-year-old missed his intended comeback in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter because of difficulties in travelling to Devon from Johnson`s Co Durham base and the recent spell of wet weather has caused havoc with Johnson`s gallops. Johnson said today: 'I`ll know tomorrow morning after I`ve given him a blow. 'I want to go but I won`t go if I`m not happy with him in the morning. 'The problem with this horse is that you`ve only got about four races in a season for him. 'He`s missed Exeter because we couldn`t get there and he`s a horse who takes work.' Johnson is hoping Norman Williamson will ride Direct Route if he does take part. Connections of Fadalko will also wait until tomorrow morning before a decision is made on whether he runs or not. The seven-year-old, an impressive winner of his seasonal debut at Wincanton, finished runner-up to Edredon Bleu in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last time. Trainer Paul Nicholls said: 'He`s a possible for the Tingle Creek. 'It was my idea that we should enter him for the race after talking it over with Robert Ogden and his racing manager Barry Simpson. 'The plan was always to wait until the last minute to make a decision whether he runs or not and that will be made in the morning.'
