Collier Bay mount for Llewellyn

In-form Carl Llewellyn has come in for the coveted ride on Collier Bay in tomorrow's Haydock Park Travelling The Turf Racecourse Of The Year Champion Hurdle Trial.

Mick Fitzgerald, who partnered Collier Bay on his reappearance third to Relkeel in the Bonusprint Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham in December, had been pencilled in to take the ride in the Grade Two event.

But Fitzgerald has been engaged to partner Ebullient Equiname for boss Nicky Henderson in the Sunbury Novices' Chase at Kempton, leaving the mount to open for Llewellyn, who rides the gelding in much of his homework at trainer Jim Old's Wroughton stables.

Llewellyn has ridden four winners for the trainer over the last two days, including a treble at Huntingdon on Wednesday, and, speaking at Taunton yesterday, Old said: "Mick Fitzgerald has to go to Kempton to ride for Nicky Henderson and Carl will ride.

"The horse is in great form and has been working well since he ran at Cheltenham. Carl has ridden him at home and he was the obvious choice."

Collier Bay was beaten a length and three-quarters on his return in the Bula, his first outing since being pulled up by Graham Bradley in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle last March.

Bradley had been in the saddle 12 months earlier when the bay had landed the hurdling crown from previous champion Alderbrook.

Gordon Richards yesterday confirmed The Grey Monk a nonrunner for tomorrow's Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock.

"He's just too quiet this morning and won't go to Haydock," said the Greystoke trainer. "He's done nothing today but he is just not himself."

The Grey Monk figures among the entries for the Singer & Friedlander National Trial at Uttoxeter on February 7th but is more likely to wait for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown the following day.

"It's more likely he'll run in the Irish race than go to Uttoxeter but unless he comes back to himself he won't go anywhere,"