Boxing Day race-goers prepare for highlight clash at Wetherby

Both are probable runners for the William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase which was won by Malcolm Jefferson’s Cape Tribulation 12 months ago.

Things have not gone his way so far this season, being pulled up in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase before being well-beaten in the Hennessy Gold Cup.

“He’s very well and is going to get an entry in the Rowland Meyrick,” said Jefferson.

In contrast, Wayward Prince was a close second to Harry Topper in the Charlie Hall before the horse, a former winner of the Towton Novices Chase at the West Yorkshire track, was pulled up on his last outing at Aintree.

“He did the splits after jumping into the back of a horse at Aintree and was a bit sore in his back afterwards, but we have had him treated and he appears to be okay,” said trainer Hilary Parrott. “I will work him this week and if that goes well, I will take him to Wetherby on Boxing Day.”

Meanwhile, AP McCoy recorded a notable double at Catterick yesterday aboard Forthefunofit and Beatu.

Proof that the 39-year-old record-breaker will go anywhere in the pursuit of winners, it follows a gruelling four days for the 18-time champion that began with a double at Cheltenham on Saturday.

He then drew a blank on Sunday at Navan in Ireland before flying to Leeds to the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony in which he was third.

McCoy then rode two winners on Monday at Ffos Las in South Wales before travelling to Catterick for a double that took his career tally at the venue to five.

Steeplechasing superstar Sprinter Sacre has been given the green light to make his seasonal reappearance in the williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on December 27.

Nicky Henderson’s stable star was withdrawn from the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown earlier this month following a bad scope.

The horse’s regular work rider Nico de Boinville, who enjoyed a 100-1 winner at Fakenham yesterday, said: “The last two bits of work have just been sensational.

“Noticeably. The turbo’s back.”

Tom Scudamore feels a more generous pace in Saturday’s Wessex Youth Trust Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot could finally get the best out of the wayward Grands Crus.

Capable of giving Big Buck’s a fright in 2011, the great hope of David Pipe’s team made a smooth start to life over fences before his form unravelled.

“The other day I was trying to anchor him but he was in charge,” said Scudamore.

“Hopefully, we’ll get more of a true run race and just see how the race pans out, but it’s not that long ago he was showing tip-top form and if he shows something like that he’s going to go very close.”