Jockey Tom Scudamore is confident testing conditions will hold no fears for Dynaste at Newbury on Friday.

The high-class staying hurdler made a most impressive start to his chasing career with a comprehensive defeat of Fingal Bay at Cheltenham earlier this month. The six-year-old now steps up to Grade Two level and faces some smart opponents in the Fuller's London Pride Novices' Chase.

Scudamore said: "All has gone well at home since his first run. I'm looking forward to getting back on him on the track again and hopefully continuing the good work he started at Cheltenham a couple of weeks ago.

"It's obviously another tough race - you wouldn't expect anything else - but he's a top horse and he's going to be running in these top races. The ground is going to be soft but that wouldn't really concern me. It was soft when he won over hurdles at Haydock and I'm sure he'll be fine."

Trainer David Pipe is hopeful rather than confident Dynaste will handle the rain-softened ground.

He said: "He came out of Cheltenham well and I think two and a half miles round Newbury should be fine for him. I don't think he's ever run on ground this soft but he seemed to handle softer ground when he was running in France, so we'll just have to hope for the best. He's in good form and we'll try and win before we start thinking about where we go next."

Emma Lavelle has an interesting contender in Court In Motion. The seven-year-old was a top-class novice hurdler a couple of seasons ago and while he was sidelined for well over a year with injury, a recent comeback third at Wincanton suggested he retains plenty of ability.

Lavelle said: "He was in the three-mile race on Thursday, but we decided to run him over the shorter trip on this sort of ground over fences. He travelled better than anything at Cheltenham last year and just got outstayed in the straight, so hopefully running him over this sort of trip suits him. It's obviously a tough race and I would rather Dynaste wasn't running, but we can't do anything about that."

Colin Tizzard is unsure what to expect from Theatre Guide, who beat the talented Hinterland by 11 lengths on his fencing debut at Exeter at the start of the month.

Tizzard said: "You'd say he's probably up against it. It just depends whether you take the Exeter form literally or not. If you do take it literally, it's brilliant form, but I don't know whether to trust it or not as maybe the first two went off too fast. Either way, our horse couldn't have done any more than he did and we'll find out a bit more about him. He's in great form and he schooled brilliantly on Monday."

13 May 2013

Fabre confirms Ocovango for Epsom
Aspect on route to big things
Room at the top for Cityscape
Freedom steps into chasing ranks
Lucky thirteen in line for Lockinge
Galway beckons for Swinton hero
Sajjhaa set for late return
Cadeaux thriving in Singapore
Pink primed for Duke Of York
Liber takes aim at Musidora
Battle won for O'Brien
Pretending the real deal
Duntle back to winning ways
Classic glory for Flotilla
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Cornerstone plans up in the air
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12 May 2013

No hurry for Jammy plans
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Vow set for Goodwood return
Gold-en boy Anodin in Classic hunt
Buick aiming for French strike
Angel flies home to land Chartwell
Barizan bounces back in style
Queally lights up Ascot meeting
Ektihaam storms to Buckhounds win
Nevis takes depleted Trial contest
Hard-fought battle won at Haydock
Secret impresses in Oaks Trial
Ascot drama for Fanning

11 May 2013

Felix foot-perfect on fencing debut
Cavalryman leads Cup charge
Ramsa ready to stand Trial
Duntle out to dazzle in Amethyst
Swift return doesn't bother Moran
Garman gives Bolger hope
Henderson: Ground vital for Voice
McMahon sweet on Tart Ascot claims
Murphy to move to France
Athos flies to Ormonde glory
Dee day for impressive Magician
Kingdom confirmed for Queen Anne
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Lambe expects good run from Hall
Marengo ready to do battle
Greatwood on trial at Lingfield
Barizan sneaks into Swinton
Jamesie gunning for Vic-tory

10 May 2013

Telescope focus is on Dante
Blinkers considered for Guarantee#
Bonfire camp bemoan Huxley flop
Moohaajim has six appeal
Ascot welcomes a couple of Guests