Saturday,
February, 3rd. will give Britain’s National Hunt Club fans their first taste of
racing at Sandown Park for the season, following the forced abandonment of it’s four
previous meetings due to inclement conditions.
But a soft surface this weekend will only
enhance the launch of Australian jumper, Logician’s British campaign in the
Weatherby’s Scilly Isles Novices Chase at the Surrey course.
Situated some 24 kilometres from the heart of
London, Sandown Park’s superb facilities house a series of rigid fences which are no
place for a faint - hearted horse or rider, and will prove an imposing initiation for the
Tony Noonan prepared gelding, but at the same time, give his trainer an excellent gauge as
to the future prospects for the horse whilst in England.
The ultimate goal, as mentioned on this site
earlier in the month, is the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 15th., but at this stage,
connections will be more than satisfied to see their colours go around, some 129 days
since they were last carried, to a stirring victory at Moonee Valley.
Local jockey, Barry Fenton, who is currently
ranked 37th. on the British Jumps Jockey table according to statistics available at the
time of print, will take the reins on Saturday. Fenton has had 122 rides to date this
season, for 16 winners and 20 placings and will be looking to add to that tally and secure
the Gold Cup mount at Cheltenham next month.
We will endeavour to bring you a full report
of Logician’s outing on this site next week and follow his progress through to the
Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup. In the meantime, let’s hope that he can fly the flag with
distinction on Saturday and give the English a right royal serve of chasing, " down
under " style.
And make sure you tell everyone to
............GO JUMP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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