Sandown Boost For Dempsey

Mark Pitman believes the abandonment of last weekend´s Victor Chandler Chase could be a blessing in disguise for Dempsey.

The two-mile handicap has been rearranged and will now take place at Sandown on Saturday after Cheltenham´s meeting was called off due to a frozen track.

Dempsey, an impressive winner over course and distance last time out, has been installed as Coral´s 5-1 favourite, while he shares that tag at the same price with the sponsors.

And Pitman believes his eight-year-old´s claims have been strengthened given the switch to the Esher track.

'He´ll run on Saturday in the Victor Chandler,' Pitman said. 'If anything, the race being put back to this week could work in our favour.

'He´ll go to Sandown where he has run twice and won twice - he won last time out there this season and also last term as a novice.

'He´s in great form and is in top condition.'

The race has attracted 21 other entries, including the Paul Nicholls-trained Albuhera and Gary Moore´s Tikram, second behind Dempsey on his last outing.

Sue Smith is responsible for both Town Crier and Mister McGoldrick.

'Both horses are fine and all being well both will run on Saturday,' reported Smith.

'Like everyone else we were obviously disappointed when Cheltenham was called off.

'We´ll just to have to see how much the ground dries up as there´s no rain forecast.'

Mister McGoldrick, conqueror of Albuhera in the Castleford Chase at Wetherby and runner-up to Al Eile in Haydock´s Champion Hurdle Trial, is also in the Agfa UK Hurdle on the same card.

'I´ll have to speak to the owner (Richard Longley) and see what he wants to do but he´ll go for one or the other,' Smith added.

(C) PA Sport