Sir Alex’s Viking ready for Aintree

The progressive steeplechaser is set to line up in the John Smith’s Grand National on the same day that his footballers host arch-rivals Manchester City in a match that could determine the outcome of the Premier League.

Both the National and Manchester derby are due to take place on April 6 as Harry The Viking looks to fare better than What A Friend, Ferguson’s previous runner in the Aintree marathon, who was pulled up in the 2011 renewal.

Harry The Viking came to prominence when winning two chases at Doncaster in 2011 under Daryl Jacob who won last year’s National in the last stride – steeplechasing’s equivalent of ‘Fergie time’ – on the gallant grey Neptune Collonges.

The eight-year-old, trained by Paul Nicholls, was second to Teaforthree in the four-miler at the Cheltenham Festival last March and was last seen finishing ninth in the Hennessy behind Gold Cup favourite Bobs Worth.

Ferguson owns Harry The Viking with three others, including Ged Mason, with whom he enjoyed great success with What A Friend.

Nicholls posted a picture on Twitter of Harry The Viking schooling at his Ditcheat stables, and said that Tidal Bay and Join Together will also be entered as he aims to follow up the success of Neptune Collonges.

At least these positive plans, and those announced by David Pipe and Oliver Sherwood, provided some glimmers of hope for the racing fraternity as the abandonments pile up.

Pipe confirmed that he is considering a tilt at the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival with the unbeaten Vieux Lion Rouge after the French-bred four-year-old followed up a 14-length winner at Ffos Las with victory at Newbury last week.

The horse is related to Marcel and won nine races, including the Tolworth Hurdle, for Pipe’s father Martin.

“Vieux Lion Rouge is a most promising young horse and he extended his record to two wins from two starts with a courageous performance in the bumper at Newbury,” said Pipe.

“Bought for what is beginning to look like a very reasonable £42,000, I will be considering a crack at the Cheltenham Festival bumper with him. He comes from an excellent family. We have a very nice crop of youngsters coming through, and he would be right up there with the best of them.”

Meanwhile the aforementioned Sherwood says he is “pretty certain” that rising Puffin Billy will bypass Cheltenham this weekend – even if the high-profile Festival trials meeting does beat the weather.

The unbeaten five-year-old is among a star-studded entry of 16 in the Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle, which has been won by the likes of Diamond Harry and Bobs Worth in recent years.

However, Sherwood is thinking of tackling a forthcoming race at Exeter instead as he looks for a slightly easier assignment.

“I’m pretty certain he won’t run,” said Sherwood. “God willing the meeting is on for racing’s sake, but even if it is, I can’t see us running. We’ll probably pass and go to Exeter in a fortnight.

“There’s nothing wrong with him at all, it’s just a gut feeling. It looks a very strong race on paper and I think I’d prefer to keep my powder dry.

“With the weather and everything – I know it’s the same for everybody – we’ve just not been able to keep to his routine.”

As for the weather, the latest update suggests there is little respite on the horizon.

Today’s turf prospects hinge on Ayr passing an early morning inspection after Catterick and Exeter were abandoned.

Tomorrow’s National Hunt cards at Fakenham and Warwick have already been called off, and Doncaster has issued a pessimistic assessment prior to its two-day Sky Bet Chase card.

An inspection today will determine prospects for Friday’s card – there is still snow on Town Moor – and the expected thaw may not come in time to save Saturday’s meeting which is also due to feature a Champion Hurdle trial transferred from Haydock last weekend.

“I’m nowhere near as confident as I was,” said clerk of the course Roderick Duncan.

“The forecast predicted a rise in temperatures from Thursday onwards, with rain then moving in Friday night into Saturday morning.

“Now they are saying the rain will not reach us until Saturday afternoon or evening. We are forecast daytime temperatures in the positive, but we need a lot of help to shift the snow. There have been a few conversations about trying to rearrange the meeting, but I don’t think they have come to anything.”

More snow was forecast last night at Cheltenham which could jeopardise Saturday’s card.

However, the meeting, set to feature horses like Bobs Worth, Sprinter Sacre and Grands Crus, will switch to Sunday if there is a greater likelihood of racing taking place.

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