Richards upbeat on Breeze's chances

The three-mile contest has a long tradition and the Greystoke trainer’s late father Gordon took it three times with Playlord (1969), Addington Boy (1996) and General Command (1997).

The present incumbent reports both horses on course for the Town Moor feature.

“It’s a lovely race with a lot of tradition,” said Richards. “Hopefully, we’ll have a good week with Ballyboker Breeze.

“He seems well and fine so I’ll discuss it with Jason (Maguire, racing manager to owners Paul and Clare Rooney) in the next day or two, but I suppose the plan is to run him. He’s in grand order.

“The going is good to soft, good in places at the minute. I’d say that would be fine.

“Looking Well has not run for a while because the only races for him have been on soft to heavy ground and that wouldn’t be his cup of tea.”

There are three potential runners left sharing top weight of 11st 12lb – Tenor Nivernais, Third Intention and Holywell – after 22 horses stood their ground at the five-day confirmation stage.

Paul Nicholls has three possibles in Vicente, Just A Par and Caid Du Berlais, while Ziga Boy could bid to repeat last year’s win for Alan King. Yorkshire hopes rest with Sue Smith’s Wakanda and Malcolm Jefferson’s Sun Cloud.

Meanwhile King George hero Thistlecrack, ante-post favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, could face 10 rivals in the BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase at Prestbury Park this Saturday.

Trainer Colin Tizzard is keen for the novice to gain more experience over fences – last year’s World Hurdle winner has only raced four times over fences.

It will be far from a walkover, though, as Oliver Sherwood has entered 2015 Grand National winner Many Clouds, who claimed this race two years ago.

Alan King could run 2015 Hennessy hero Smad Place, who also landed the Cotswold Chase last season.

However entries for Skybet’s two chief supporting races, a novice chase and mares hurdle, have been reopened.

Neither race acquired the requisite 10 entries and trainers have until noon today to reconsider.

Unowhatimeanharry is due to put his long unbeaten run on the line in the galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday for which 15 horses have been entered.

The nine-year-old has won seven on the bounce, including the Albert Bartlett in March and the Long Walk Hurdle last month, since joining Harry Fry.

Meanwhile Warren Greatrex is keeping his options open for 2015 World Hurdle winner Cole Harden who disappointed on his novice chase debut at Wetherby last month.

“Cole Harden could go there if the ground dries up but only if the ground is good.”

“If it is soft he will run in a novice chase at Doncaster on Friday,” said Greatrex.”

Nicky Henderson will resist the temptation of running stable star Altior in Saturday’s rescheduled Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham.

The unbeaten novice was amongst the original entries but was not declared for the Grade One event, which was called off last Saturday due to a frozen track at Ascot.

With the race now added to Cheltenham’s card, there is another chance to take on the likes of Un De Sceaux.

But Seven Barrows trainer Henderson says he will stick to his original plan and run Altior in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury next month.