Dolatulo sets sights on Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster

Victorious in the 2014 Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby, the steeplechaser could not defend his title last month after the meeting was lost to the weather.

However, Greatrex is looking forward to returning to Yorkshire on January 30.

“I am very happy with him,” he said.

“We were aiming him at the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby again over Christmas but that was abandoned, which was unfortunate as we thought that he had a good chance.

“I backed off him a bit after Boxing Day but he is in full work now and seems in good form. It looks a strong race based on the entries but Dolatulo has only had the one start this season, having run very well in the Becher Chase, and heads to Doncaster a fresh horse.

“He is a very solid horse who always runs his race and three miles around Doncaster won’t be a problem. We are going to look at running him in the cross-country chase at Cheltenham after his run at Doncaster, which I think he could be made for. I don’t think he quite stayed the Grand National trip last year and we won’t be going down that route again.”

Dolatulo has been allotted a very competitive 10st 12lb by the handicapper, one stone less than the joint top weights Ballynagour and Sam Winner who have both been placed in Grade One contests for David Pipe and Paul Nicholls respectively.

Jonjo O’Neill’s Holywell, a Grade One winner who has lost his way, is on 11st 11lb while High Eldwick-based Sue Smith’s No Planning has 10st 3lb, another advantageous weight.

The only other Yorkshire entry is Distime from the Guiseley yard of Richard and Samantha Drake. Rated 40th amongst the 46 runners with 9st 9lb, this horse – third over the Grand National fences last month – will do well to make the final cut.

The 2015 hero Faugheen is the star turn among 19 entries for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The eight-year-old saw off stable companions Arctic Fire and Hurricane Fly to lead home a one-two-three for Willie Mullins in last year’s renewal and Ireland’s champion trainer again has a strong hand with four runners in total.

Yet a potential outsider is the Scottish contender Aristo Du Plessis, who has won his last six completed starts for trainer James Ewart while helping launch the career of young conditional Dale Irving.

Victory in in the Scottish County Hurdle at Musselburgh on February 7 might tempt connections to seek Cheltenham glory.

“We could go to Cheltenham but he is still a young horse and his main aim this season is the Scottish Champion Hurdle (Ayr, April 16). But if he runs very well at Musselburgh and everybody is in agreement, the Champion Hurdle will be seriously considered,” said Ewart.

“He has not run in a Listed or Graded race but his rating is now 150 and he is rated not far off Grade One winners. We will have to see how he gets on in a level weights contest – hopefully the handicapper is right.

“He had exactly the same problem as Cue Card – a trapped epiglottis – and that was operated on last summer and has led to a marked improvement. If the Champion Hurdle cuts up and there were only seven or eight runners, then I could see us taking our place.”

Gary Moore does not feel it necessary to give Ar Mad a competitive start on a left-handed track ahead of his tilt at the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham.

The six-year-old has confirmed himself one of the country’s leading novice chasers by completing a hat-trick of victories at Sandown and Kempton this winter, but both of those venues are right-handed.

His only start over fences on a left-handed track was on his introduction at Plumpton, where he finished a disappointing sixth of eight runners. Moore will give his charge some experience of jumping left-handed between now and the Festival in March – but not in a race.

Callum Bewley, who served his apprenticeship with Sue and Harvey Smith, made it two wins from two days when Solway Bay prevailed at Musselburgh yesterday for his retained trainer Lisa Harrison.