Moonshine camp hoping for sunshine around the corner

Posted on | February 6, 2012 | No Comments

The recent bout of cold weather has dealt something of a blow to the hopes of West Yorkshire-based jumps trainer Sue Smith who is very keen to get another run into her talented novice chaser Mr Moonshine ahead of a possible crack at the big guns in the Grade 1 RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on March 14, writes Elliot Slater.

Smith, wife of show jumping legend Harvey, trains at Bingley way up on the hills not very far from‘Wuthering Heights’ country at Haworth, and there has been plenty of snow there over the last few days to make keeping her horses at peak fitness something of a difficult task. Mr Moonshine had shown progressive form this term before taking on the red-hot Grand Crus at Kempton Park on Boxing Day in the Grade 1 Feltham Novices Chase, where he raced prominently for much of the trip before fading approaching the home turn, eventually coming home in fifth place on ground that was quicker than ideal for him. Anyone following the Betfair Cheltenham Betting needs to bear that in mind.

Prior to Kempton the gelded son of Double Eclipse had been very much on an upward curve with wins in decent novice company at Carlisle and Haydock having been followed by a fine effort when third to the smart Gauvain in the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon in December, still being in touch with the winner going to the final fence, only to weaken on the run-in, eventually coming home 15-lengths behind the winner. Anyone looking at Betfair online will be wondering if he can push on.

Smith is keen to let the eight-year-old, (whose ante-post odds for the staying novice championship event range from 25/1 to 50/1), take his chance at Cheltenham, but would be forced to look elsewhere if the ground is good or faster on the big day.

Related posts:

1. Leader hoping to show the way home in Kim Muir
2. Somersby given green light for Victor Chandler Chase challenge
3. Prince looks the percentage call in Hennessy Gold Cup
4. Fairyhouse card on the move again
5. Mossey Joe puts unbeaten record on the line

Comments