Sailor's Warn looks for big Ascot pay day

RACING:EDWARD O'GRADY is taking no chances as he targets a big pay day at Ascot on Saturday with Sailor's Warn. The Co Tipperary trainer yesterday confirmed his charge will take part in this weekend's Ladbroke Hurdle, which is worth over €177,000 in total.

Sailor’s Warn has been installed a 10 to 1 shot by the big-race sponsors for a race which has a complexion dominated by the British champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

His Prospect Wells is a general 4 to 1 favourite while Nicholls also has the top-weight Brampour who ran behind Grandouet at Cheltenham last Saturday in a Grade Two.

However, his presence could also work in O’Grady’s favour keeping Sailor’s Warn’s weight at 10st 11lb.

“The top one is obviously in there for the favourite but it helps us as well. Our horse is not very big so anything that keeps the weight down is good,” O’Grady said yesterday.

Although the weather may not impact on racing going ahead on Saturday, O’Grady is considering sending Sailor’s Warn to Britain early to ensure there is no shipping trouble.

O’Grady also reported that his star chaser Tranquil Sea has emerged unscathed from Sunday’s John Durkan Chase where he was pulled up before the last behind Rubi Light.

Tranquil Sea has a number of Christmas options, including the Grade One Dial-A-Bet but could also be kept in reserve for a valuable chase at Tramore on New Year’s Day.

“Nothing untoward has shown up with him and I have to believe it was just the ground on Sunday. He was travelling like he had to be in the first two at the end of the back straight when the likes of Joncol and Cooldine were struggling. But they stayed going while we hit a wall,” O’Grady said.

“I’m not sure what we will do next with him but it is possible he could go to Tramore on New Years’ Day. And I will take him out of the Lexus,” he added.

The Real Article will appear next for O’Grady in the Grade One Istabraq Hurdle on the last day of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival.