Travelling strongly throughout the two-and-a-quarter-mile trip he never looked in danger once he took it

Travelling strongly throughout the two-and-a-quarter-mile trip, he never looked in danger once he took it up on the bridle at the last. Williams reported: “Unfortunately, his blood test wasn’t as good as it should be. I can’t say at the moment how serious it is but I hope he will be able to go to Cheltenham.”Edelweis Du Moulin, yet to race for Williams, was fourth in the Arkle Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival when trained by Gordon Richards but has not run since finishing second at Ayr last April.Richard Johnson, who completed a century of winners for the season at Doncaster yesterday, has plenty to look forward to in the remainder of the season and is hoping for a good Cheltenham Festival. The 1997 Champion Hurdle third returns from a four-and-a-half-month break in the Brannockstown Handicap Hurdle.Space Trucker has been out of action because of a foot injury but Jessica Harrington, his trainer, said: “We normally don’t run him during the winter for he prefers good to fast ground. He has been flying since Christmas and if the ground dries up at Cheltenham, he would have a marvellous chance.” Mrs Harrington also runs Slaney Native in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle and Ferbet Junior in the Coral Cup.Edelweis Du Moulin’s reappearance was put on hold again yesterday when the Queen Mother Champion Chase hope was pulled out of his planned comeback in the Geoffrey Gilbey Handicap Chase at Newbury because his trainer, Venetia Williams, was not happy with his blood test. EARTH SUMMIT may miss the Gold Cup.

The Grand National winner, who also scored over Aintree’s fences in the Becher Chase in November, has not run since disappointing in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock in January. Earth Summit is being prepared for another tilt at the National and Twiston- Davies said: “The owners are keen for Earth Summit to be left in the Gold Cup to the last minute in case it comes up really deep. But I think it’s unlikely he would run in that race and I think he’d go straight to Aintree.”
The Irish trainer Dermot Weld said yesterday the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle was the likely Cheltenham target of his Ladbroke Hurdle winner Archive Footage.Space Trucker warms up for Cheltenham’s Grand Annual Chase with a run over hurdles at Leopardstown tomorrow. Crisford added: “The other Godolphin horses for the Derby at the moment are Dubai Millennium, Mukhalif, Mutafaweq and Rhagaas. They are all lightly-raced, unexposed horses who should be suited by a mile and a half.”The trainer Aidan O’Brien has left 18 in the race, including Orpen, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky and Genghis Khan – an unraced half-brother to Generous, the 1991 Derby winner.Godolphin are responsible for 19 of the 110 entries in the Oaks, with their Saytarra entered for both the Oaks and the Derby.DERBY: William Hill: 10-1 Commander Collins, 12-1 Adair, 16-1 Aljabr, Dubai Millennium, Rhagaas, 20-1 others.. He has had only one run so far and we will need more evidence before he becomes a real live Derby prospect.”Adair is the 12-1 second favourite for the Classic, behind Commander Collins at 10-1.

Judged on what we have seen he is a very promising colt and we hope he will make up into a really useful middle-distance prospect. Adair was bought privately to join the Dubai-based team after an 11-length win on his debut at Belmont Park in New York last October.
Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s racing manager, said: “Adair is not entered in the Derby at present, but it is our intention to enter him at the next entry stage in April. The Major is a game and genuine horse who always jumps well.In Truth: A long way behind Major Bell on his latest start and needs to improve dramatically to reverse the form.Conclusion: The Scottish Grand National winner Baronet poses a serious threat, even under a big weight. However, he may struggle to match strides with MAJOR BELL, who can add this notable prize to his victory in the Great Yorkshire Chase at Town Moor in January.. THE EX-AMERICAN colt Adair is to be entered in the Derby, Godolphin confirmed yesterday. Sheikh Mohammed’s organisation already have the Kentucky Derby hope Aljabr in the Epsom Classic, for which there were 143 acceptors after the first forfeit stage yesterday.