ARCTIC Kinsman is bound for the Cheltenham Festival after putting up a sparkling display on his fencing debut at Leicester yesterday. Apart from drifting left at some obstacles the grey displayed a sound technique to put Callisoe Bay firmly in his place in the Groby Novices' Chase.
Making all the running, Arctic kinsman had taken complete control by the final fence and Carl Llewellyn was able to ease down on the run-in allowing Callisoe Bay to close to three lengths at the line.
Arctic Kinsman will now be prepared for a tilt at the Arkle Challenge Trophy with one or two races beforehand. Injuries have restricted Arctic Kinsman's appearances since he won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in 1994 and Twiston-Davies has to treat the gelding with kid gloves. "He had a stress fracture of the pelvis and also has a problem with hip ligaments so we have to take thing5 carefully with him, said the trainer.
After falling twice in three races, Oliver Sherwood was delighted to see Callisoe Bay complete the course. "We are going to persevere with him over fences. I'm just relieved that he got round but he wouldn't really have been suited by the ground today," he said.
A trip to the Festival is also a possibility for Master Orchestra who was required to dig deep to land the Breedon Novices' Handicap Chase. He was handed the lead when Garrison Commander blundered at the last but then was flat out to hold the late challenge of Glenfinn Princess by a short-head.
The stewards took a dim view of jockey Jason Titley's efforts and banned him for two days (January 18th and 19th) for misuse of the whip.
Trainer Henrietta Knight does not believe Master Orchestra will be good enough for the Sun Alliance Chase but he may be pitched into the four-mile National Hunt Chase at the Festival.
Martin Pipe maintained his rich vein of form, clinching a double with Tonys Gift in the Nomad Novices Hurdle (Division Two)) and Cool Clown in the Chieftain Claiming Hurdle.
An overturned cattle lorry delayed racing at Lingfield yesterday for 35 minutes because a course doctor and a vet were caught up in the traffic jam.
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