Azertyuiop is still fancied

A further six entries for the Tingle Creek Trophy mean that Azertyuiop and Moscow Flyer have not completely frightened off the opposition at Sandown on Saturday.

The race was reopened until 9.15 yesterday morning after just four original entries were made on Monday - the big two plus Cenkos and Well Chief.

Upgrade, Mister McGoldrick, Blackchurch Mist, Blazing Batman, Tysou and Flagship Uberalles have now joined the original cast.

The presence of the Philip Hobbs-trained Flagship Uberalles means the winners of the last five renewals could be in opposition. Moscow Flyer was victorious 12 months ago, Cenkos scored in 2002 and Flagship Uberalles landed a hat-trick between 1999 and 2001.

Hobbs said yesterday, however, that Flagship Uberalles was far from a certain runner, a view echoed by Tysou's trainer Nicky Henderson.

"Flagship Uberalles is unlikely to run unless the race looks like cutting up," Hobbs said. "His Exeter run (a well-beaten fifth behind Azertyuiop in the Haldon Gold Cup) confirmed that he is not quite capable of living with the big guns any more. But it was worth us having a look."

Henderson said of his seven-year-old: "I've put him in the race because I want to support it. I've spoken to (owner) Bill Brown and he is happy to run, but I've got to be a bit wary about him running well and going up in the weights.

"I ran him from 7lb out of the handicap at Cheltenham last time. He ran a great race to finish third to Armaturk (with Well Chief second) but the handicapper put him up 8lb for that, which was really very disappointing.

"If he was to run well again and be put up any more, then he would have no chance in a handicap. So I have to think about what is best for him.

"I'll see how many runners it looks like it will have and then make a decision. But the alternative for him is the Jenny Mould Memorial at Cheltenham the following week."

Sue Smith is also unsure about the participation of Mister McGoldrick. The West Yorkshire trainer said of the promising seven-year-old: "Mister McGoldrick is very well but he is due to do one more piece of work before we make the final decision for Saturday."

Azertyuiop's owner John Hales is looking forward to the clash with Moscow Flyer, although he admitted the nerves are beginning to jangle.

"I'm getting on edge a little bit now as the build-up starts. It's going to be quite a race, but I'll be glad when it's over and the horse is fit and well," he said.

"Azertyuiop and Moscow Flyer are the two best two-mile chasers around, so it looks like it is going to be some race.

"Azertyuiop has been put up now by the handicapper as the highest-rated horse in the country, and deservedly so I think."

Hales' horse is 4 to 6 favourite with the sponsors to go one place better than last year, when he had to settle for second behind Moscow Flyer, who has still to be beaten in completed chases.

David Hood, public relations director at William Hill, was pleased to see the additional entries but is in no doubt the big two will dominate at the weekend, with Moscow Flyer proving popular today and now trading at 9 to 4 from 5 to 2.

"I don't think any of them realistically think they can beat Azertyuiop or Moscow Flyer, otherwise they would have entered initially," he said.

"However, they don't earn prize money standing in their box and are capable of running into the money, which goes down to sixth place."

A victory for Azertyuiop would see him leap to the head of the British Horseracing Board's Order Of Merit series following his win in the Haldon Gold Cup.

BETTING: TINGLE CREEK TROPHY: (William Hill): 4-6 Azertyuiop, 9-4 Moscow Flyer, 9-2 Well Chief, 14-1 Cenkos, 22-1 Flagship Uberalles, 28-1 Upgrade, 33-1 Mister McGoldrick, 40-1 Tysou, 250-1 Blazing Batman, 500-1 Blackchurch Mist.