Gary Moore has all the tricks as long as he's not left out in the cold

All the rage: Harry Tricker has been well backed for the Ladbroke at Ascot on Saturday

13 April 2012

Gary Moore is increasingly bullish over the chances of Harry Tricker in Saturday's big betting race, the Ladbroke Handicap at Ascot - that's if the meeting beats the weather.

Temperatures are set to drop below freezing in the next few days and there is also a chance of snow during the two-day fixture.

Ascot's clerk of the course Chris Stickels said: "There is a reasonable chance of the meeting going ahead, providing that the frost covers we have put down do their job.

"I'm not certain how effective they will be with the conditions that are predicted. We are going to get a very cold snap, with the temperatures set to drop to minus three and four degrees overnight on Thursday and Friday. There is also the chance of snow.

"We've put covers on before and they have worked but the daytime temperatures are not going to get as high this time. We just have to keep our fingers crossed."

The money continues to come in for Harry Tricker, who was beaten two lengths by Khyber Kim in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. He is as short as 5-1 with Sky Bet for the two-mile Listed hurdle, having been an 8-1 shot on Monday's declaration stage.

Trainer Moore said: "It is so far so good with him and we're hopeful that the meeting goes ahead. He's got a great chance, providing there is no horse like Khyber Kim in the race.

"He's taken the race well and has been working well since. Andrew Glassonbury rides, as he did at Cheltenham and his 3lb claim comes in handy."

Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, Khyber Kim paid a huge compliment to Harry Tricker when landing the Boylesports.com Hurdle, defeating Champion Hurdle one-two Punjabi and Celestial Halo in the process.

But Moore said: "I'm not sure Harry Tricker will be good enough to jump up in class and I don't see Khyber Kim as a Champion Hurdler, but Nigel knows what he's got and he did boost that Greatwood Hurdle form."

Meanwhile, Richard Johnson was left stranded on the 1,999-winner mark when Folkestone's card fell to frost yesterday. Though sure to become only the second jockey to break the magic 2,000-winner mark, Sky Bet offer just 4-1 that he will notch 3,000.

The eternal bridesmaid in the jump jockeys' championship, Johnson is 2-1 with the firm to wrestle the title away from Tony McCoy for the first time by the 2012/13 season.

The English rider, who has finished runner-up to McCoy on no fewer than 10 occasions, is a 2-5 shot to ride 2,500 winners in his career.

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