'I'd have gone back in' - trainers call for Clarence House to be reopened

Paul Nicholls and Gary Moore have called for Saturday's rearranged Clarence House to be reopened, stating they would consider running Greaneteen and Editeur Du Gite.

Cheltenham may have rescued the valuable Grade 1 after the cancellation of Ascot's six-race card on Saturday, but when early-closing races are rescheduled BHA policy dictates they revert to the six-day forfeit stage rather than reopening – a fact both Nicholls and Moore, who won the Clarence House in 2014 with Sire De Grugy, bemoaned.

"They only reoffered it to horses who were already entered, they haven't reopened it. I'd have gone back in," said Moore.

"Editeur Du Gite's great around Cheltenham, he wouldn't have been so good at Ascot. But they don't even do that, it's just the original eight."

Gary Moore: would run Editeur Du Gite at Cheltenham on Saturday if the rearranged Clarence House Chase was reopenedCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Just three of the eight were declared for Saturday's intended running of the race at Ascot, with superstars Energuemene and Edwardstone joined by Amarillo Sky.

With a material change to the race, Nicholls believes others may have been tempted to run, resulting in a more competitive field.

"If they reopened it on Monday I might have had a little look, especially if they've a dry week," the 13-time champion trainer said on Racing TV, suggesting Tingle Creek second Greaneteen might have been a candidate to take part. "It would open the race up for another day."

The BHA was approached by the Racing Post for a comment on the reasoning behind the current system.

For his part, Edwardstone's trainer Alan King was full of praise for the race being rescheduled at Cheltenham – as it was in 2013 and 2017 – and added: "Stuart Middleton at the BHA rang me to discuss saving the Clarence House and check that I was willing to run and I'm delighted it's been done.

"I'm looking forward to running Edwardstone at Cheltenham on Saturday and really grateful for all the efforts that have been made to ensure it can happen."

Willie Mullins has already indicated Energumene will head to Cheltenham next Saturday for the rearranged Clarence House Chase, meaning racing fans will only have to wait a week rather than a couple of months for the first two in the betting for the Queen Mother Champion Chase to clash at Cheltenham.

Fugitif, Funambule Sivola, Minella Drama, Messire Des Obeaux and Sizing Pottsie have rejoined the potential field, but Richard Hobson has said he would prefer to go down the handicap route with Fugitif.

Hobson instead favours the Paddy Power-sponsored 2m4½f handicap chase on the same card for his eight-year-old, and said: "His original entry for the Clarence House holds and we don't have to enter him again, but with the cut in prize-money [value £90,000 instead of the initial £175,000] I may as well go for the handicap on the same day.

"He's definitely a Graded horse. He has so much ability he doesn't even know he's got it at the moment. He's been a work in progress the last couple of years, but is very exciting and nowhere near the finished article."

Fugitif: won a handicap chase at Chepstow over the festive periodCredit: Getty Images

Fugitif has won four of his 13 starts since joining Hobson's Gloucestershire yard from France and finished fourth to L'Homme Presse on his first appearance in a Grade 1 in the Scilly Isles at Sandown last year.

The trainer added: "You won't see the best of him until he steps up in trip further down the line. He'll run in the handicap next weekend and then he'll go for the festival.

"It makes sense to run in a handicap than to run in a Grade 1 when they have cut the prize-money. He's on an upward curve and we'll try to win a handicap and be more realistic about it all."

As meetings fell victim to the sub-zero temperatures in recent days, Hobson said it had been yet another difficult period for trainers.

"It's cold, we're all working hard and the staff are working extra hours to pull together for winners and success," he said.

"It has been a struggle in these -4C and -5C temperatures when it's been difficult to get on to the gallops. We have a backlog of things and we're trying to get the horses out; it really is tough going."

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