Moore fielding strong squad should Lingfield beat the freeze

Trainer has plenty of contenders, but the meeting is subject to a morning inspection.

One man desperate for Lingfield’s scheduled third day of its Winter Million meeting to go ahead is Gary Moore, who has several leading chances headed by Goshen.

The seven-year-old would appear to have a strong claim in the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle, in which he was third last season, should the meeting pass an 8am precautionary inspection.

Goshen hung out to the right, as he had done on several occasions before, that day but Moore is happy to go back left-handed with him due to the excellent prize-money on offer, with GBP 52,000 available to the first home.

An easy winner of the Coral Hurdle at Ascot already this season, Goshen failed to see out the trip when second to Paisley Park in the rearranged Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton over Christmas.

“We’ve got to give it a go as the prize-money is good and I don’t think the race is overly strong,” said Moore.

“He’s had a good year and done amazingly well and his next run will probably be at Wincanton back over two miles (Kingwell Hurdle).

“He’s in good form, has come out of Kempton well and would go there with every chance.”

Nicky Henderson’s First Street, third in the Relkeel Hurdle over two and a half miles, would appear Goshen’s main rival while three of the seven declared have other options this weekend.

In the Surrey National, Moore is represented by Movethechains, who enjoyed four wide-margin victories at Lingfield last season.

Movethechains finished a respectable fifth in the Welsh National
Movethechains finished a respectable fifth in the Welsh National (David Davies/PA)

He reappeared in the Welsh National and finished fifth, albeit beaten 46 lengths.

“I’m looking forward to him. He ran really well in the Welsh National to say he hadn’t had a run before,” said Moore.

“He runs well round Lingfield and I just hope it’s on for him. I would like to think he’s still well treated, but you can never tell until you get to the racecourse.”

Moore also runs Cloud Dancer in the opening bumper, Heaven Smart in the Winter Million Ballykelly Consulting Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, Hudson De Grugy in the Cazoo Beginners’ Chase, Teddy Blue in the Sovereign Handicap Hurdle and Haddex Des Obeaux in the Godstone Handicap Chase.

Haddex Des Obeaux was a winner at Warwick last weekend
Haddex Des Obeaux was a winner at Warwick last weekend (Nigel French/PA)

“They’ve been all trained especially for it really,” he said.

“I love Lingfield and it’s not far away. I think it’s a very underestimated racecourse and a great track.

“I know you do get soft ground there, but they are National Hunt horses and you know what you are going to get, so I guess don’t go there if you don’t want soft ground.”

The one race in which Moore is not represented is the feature Fleur De Lys Chase, in which Kim Bailey’s Two For Gold is out to repeat his victory of 12 months ago.

He went on to finish second to Fakir D’Oudairies in the Grade One Ascot Chase and ran well for a long way in the Grand National, but he disappointed back at Aintree in the Grand Sefton on his only outing this term.

Bailey said: “We shall be doing our best, so let’s hope the meeting is on.

“The horse is very well, I couldn’t be happier with him.

“He’s been trained for the day, we know he’ll go in the conditions, it will be a war of attrition so it’s fingers crossed.

“He has probably had one race too many at Aintree now, I don’t think we’ll be going back there again.”

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