Racing: Mick Fitzgerald will renew his partnership with Queen Mother Champion Chase favourite Kauto Star in the totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday.
With Paul Nicholls' regular top man Ruby Walsh out of action due to injury, Fitzgerald has been given the chance to add to the Tingle Creek he won on the French-bred five-year-old at Sandown in December.
The Game Spirit has been used to good effect in the past by Nicholls, who claimed the prize with Azertyuiop before he went on to Cheltenham glory. With John Hales' star out injured this year, Nicholls will be hoping Kauto Star proves to be an able deputy.
He could be joined at Newbury by stablemates Armaturk and Andreas, but as there were only eight original entries for the race it has been reopened until 9.15am tomorrow in an attempt to boost numbers.
For Fitzgerald, still buzzing after landing the Victor Chandler on board Tysou, it was welcome news.
"It's fantastic," said the jockey. "Obviously it's sad for Ruby to miss the ride but it's like I said when I rode him in the Tingle Creek, I'm just keeping the saddle warm for him really. It's a great ride to get, obviously he's a very good horse and you'd like to think that this is his stepping stone to the Champion Chase."
After winning the Tingle Creek at right-handed Sandown, Fitzgerald advised connections the horse would be better still going the other way round.
"Even though he won impressively at Sandown going right-handed, he definitely felt like he wanted to go the other way round to me," the rider said. "I loved him last time and I'm hopeful of a big run again. He's a course and distance winner, he beat Foreman easily on his first run over here, and already winning around the track is a big help."