Connections of the Nicky Henderson-trained Darlan are looking forward to getting a run into the six-year-old at Doncaster before he goes for Champion Hurdle glory in March.

He was due to line up in the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday, but switched to the 32Red Hurdle on Town Moor after the Esher track's hurdle races had to be abandoned due to waterlogging.

"It's a competitive little race. It's great they have put on the race and the ground might not be too bad there," said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.

"It's nice to see a good field, it's great to be able to get the run into him and we hope he runs well."

John Quinn believes another of the runners, Countrywide Flame, will only be seen at his best when ground conditions improve.

Last year's Triumph Hurdle hero, who landed the Fighting Fifth earlier in the season, goes into the contest on the back of a disappointing fourth behind Darlan in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

"He's fit and well and schooled well the other day, so I'm looking forward to running him on Monday," said the North Yorkshire handler.

"The ground will be more suitable than what he's been running on so far this season and I do think once the ground really dries up in the spring he'll be even better. I think he'll run a good race on Monday, but it's not Cheltenham and that's what we're really looking forward to.

"We know he loves Cheltenham, he showed that in the Triumph Hurdle last year, and as I was saying to someone the other day, if he hadn't kicked the last hurdle out of the ground he'd have won the Triumph Hurdle by six lengths.

"Monday is a good opportunity to get him out again on a bit of nice ground, so we'll see how we go."

19 June 2013

Classic rematch in Coronation
Guest has excellent chance
Brittain sweet on Rizeena
Team O'Brien aim for perfect Ten
Chigun aiming for Cambridge glory
Camelot bids for redemption
O'Neill ace proves too sharp
Ballydoyle in command in Coventry
Dawn delivers in thriller
Sole powers to sprint glory
O'Brien sounds War cry

18 June 2013

Stevens is king of the Castle
Al Thani snaps up Sandiva
Minute's silence remembers Cecil
Duntle on Cambridge duty
Alive and Just in Ribblesdale mix
Passage heads Gold field
Deegan considers Soprano options
Toro out for Palace glory
Cecil's words not lost on Ponsonby
Dawn out for Palace redemption
Hawkwood supplemented for Hardwicke
Flotilla To Drop Back In Trip
Cecil's Chigun in Cambridge action
Al Kazeem and Camelot clash again
De Kock hoping to make history
War ready for Royal Ascot battle
Kingdom set to reign over Ascot

17 June 2013

Magician set for Palace showdown
Cat clings on for Carroll
Three more winners for Lady Cecil
Monaghan delivers on Midnight
Treve in stunning Diane win
Sapphire target for Trees
Beckett mulls Secret options
Nicholls has broken wrist

16 June 2013

Songbird aiming to fly high
Movie has Newmarket on radar
Fahey juveniles primed for action
Stubbs leads O'Brien Coventry team
Salsify on summer break
Kempton target for Benbulben
Top trio head Palace runners
Shea Shea shoots for Stand glory
Animal heads Queen Anne field
Saint-Cloud aim for Dunaden
Magician to be declared for Palace
Soul all heart in York sprint
Kingsgate rules Musselburgh
Sam too sharp for rivals
Hughes makes it pay with Knight
Balding on mark with double
Morawij in a hurry in Scurry
Bartley is queen for a day
Big guns to clash in Coronation