HORSE RACING: Balme's back! (From Swindon Advertiser)

HORSE RACING: Balme's back!

8:30am Saturday 6th February 2010 in Local

FARINGDON-BASED trainer Sean Curran is looking forward to running his 2008 Scottish National winner Iris De Balme in a novice hurdle at Wetherby this afternoon.

The 10-year-old has not been seen since finishing fourth behind Monkerhostin in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, but the trainer reported that he had been ready to run since December.

Curran explained to the racing press: “He broke down after the Sandown race and had to have time off. We have had him ready to run but the ground has been too bad. I took him out of the Welsh National and then he was supposed to go to Doncaster last weekend, but the meeting was abandoned.

“I have entered him in the Grand National but I want to see him back on the track first and then we will see what happens after that. He has to get in the National for a start so it’s very much at the handicapper’s decision.

“Hopefully he will run this weekend and then go on to the Eider Chase, if he is still alright after that then he will go to Aintree.”

Meanwhile, Barbary Castle trainer Alan King will be sending several runners to Doncaster this afternoon headed by Tarotino, who runs in the feature race on the card, the Blue Square Handicap chase.

Ground conditions are unlikely to be ideal but the trainer said: “We need to get Tarotino going again and the drier the ground gets, the better.”

The yard has three runners in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle - Sir Harry Ormesher, Saticon and Silk Hall.

Old Benny and Minella Four Star represent the stable in the four mile handicap chase.

Karabak, who was a non-runner in last Saturday’s Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham, will go straight to the Festival for another clash with Big Bucks in the Grade 1 World Hurdle.

Explaining Karabak’s absence the trainer said: “I still have a few horses who are not quite right and I was not happy with Karabak’s final scope so we opted out of the Cheltenham race.”

The trainer will also aim Katchit at the World Hurdle after he delighted his connections by finishing second to Tidal Bay in the Cleeve Hurdle.

King added: “He might not have the speed of old but the enthusiasm is certainly still there.”

Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson expects to have some of his big guns on parade at Sandown when Binocular, Zaynar and Afsoun are entered in the Listed Contenders Hurdle, while Punchestown and Long Run contest the Challengers Novice Chase.

Both Binocular and Punchestown should chalk up short-priced victories en route to the Cheltenham Festival.

All weather fans are catered for at Lingfield where the seven-race card gets underway at 1.25pm with an Apprentice Handicap, that could be won by Stanley Goodspeed.

Later in the afternoon Ebraam, trained by Curran at Faringdon, could be worth a bet as could the Andy Turnell-trained Blue Bajan.

Ravi River and Monterosso are other likely winners.