Walkon set for totesport Trophy Leading fancy Walkon has been confirmed for the totesport Trophy at Newbury on Saturday. Alan King's grey was sidelined by injury for the best part of two years before making a pleasing comeback to finish second at Ascot just three weeks ago. King has been debating all week whether to let him line up so soon after his return to action but a pleasing workout on Thursday morning has prompted the trainer to give his charge the green light. "Choc (Robert Thornton) jumped six hurdles with Walkon and he was very happy," King said on his website www.alankingracing.co.uk. "He worked on Wednesday and seems to be coming back to himself so, while you always worry about the bounce factor, we have no reason not to run. "The handicapper put Walkon up 6lb after his excellent comeback run at Ascot, so it was always the intention to run here off his old mark provided we were happy with the horse. "Ideally we would have liked another week, but there is only one totesport Trophy, so we'll give it our best shot. "Choc will ride Walkon, with Wayne Hutchinson on Salden Licht, Richard Johnson on Iolith and Jimmy McCarthy on The Betchworth Kid. It's just great to go into a big race with four real chances." Salden Licht and Nicky Henderson's French import Solix head the weights after 23 runners were declared for the valuable handicap. Henderson has a very strong hand with last season's Triumph Hurdle hero Soldatino and Eradicate set to face the starter too. Willie Mullins saddles both MCR Hurdle winner Final Approach and Sweet My Lord, David Pipe runs Notus De La Tour and Ronaldo Des Mottes, while Recession Proof and Bothy are also in the reckoning. The only withdrawal from the confirmation stage was the Howard Johnson-trained Stormy Weather, who instead runs at Musselburgh on Friday.
