'It would be a huge blow if it was lost,' says the trainer, who also previews the Clarence House...
With just over a week to go until the Clarence House at Ascot, it is looking more and more likely that Ar Mad will be our only runner in the race.
He seems a different horse now from the one going into the Tingle Creek and is flying at home.
Un De Sceaux has improved plenty since too, but I honestly couldn’t be more delighted with Ar Mad.
I’m really looking forward to seeing him back in action.
Don’t get me wrong, Sire De Grugy is in great form at home too, but I’m just leaning towards giving him a bit more of a break as he’s been busy.
The other factor is jockey bookings as with Josh on the sidelines, Jamie will ride Ar Mad.
That means I’d have to put someone else up on Sire De Grugy for the first time and I’m not all that keen on doing that.
The Clarence House will tell us whether Ar Mad is a genuine Betway Champion Chase contender or whether we elect to step him up in trip for a race like the Ryanair Chase.
Win, lose or draw at Ascot, I have half an eye on going back with him again in February for the Ascot Chase.
Sire De Grugy could join Traffic Fluide in Game Spirit
A week is a long time in racing, but at the moment my preference is to wait for the Game Spirit for Sire De Grugy where he could be joined by Traffic Fluide.
I’ve been delighted with Traffic Fluide’s progress and he is getting there every day. If I can, I’d like to get a racecourse gallop into him somewhere before Newbury.
As with Ar Mad, it will be a lot easier to set out who goes where when it comes to Cheltenham after they have all had one more run.
Kempton decision an absolute disgrace
Plenty has been written and said over the last week about the Jockey Club’s plans to potentially bulldoze Kempton for housing and all I’ll add is that I think it’s an absolute disgrace.
Yes, of all the tracks in the country, it’s the one where I send the most runners, but that’s for a reason.
It’s a great and fair track for both Flat and National Hunt – it would be a huge blow if it was lost.
The one thing I don’t understand is that the Jockey Club talk of its Royal Charter to act for the long-term good of British Racing and in the same breath talk about selling Kempton.
It just doesn’t make any sense.
The danger with putting one of the country’s most historic tracks up for sale is that it sets a dangerous precedent for other tracks.
We’ve all seen what is happening in greyhound racing and the Jockey Club need to stand by their so-called Charter.
