Tiday Bay in 'super form' for Wetherby

Howard Johnson is ready to unleash Tidal Bay at Wetherby on Saturday week after he pleased the trainer in a gallop following racing at Pontefract yesterday.

The 2008 Arkle Trophy winner lost his way over fences last season and after reverting to the smaller obstacles, he finished behind Big Buck's in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham and in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.

Johnson is still no nearer to deciding his future plans, however. He said: "He's nine years old now and we're still trying to work out his best trip. He's a funny horse, sometimes he takes to fences and sometimes he doesn't.

"He's in super form. He had a racecourse spin last night and we'll start him off over three miles in the John Smith's Hurdle at Wetherby and then decide what we'll do from there."

Johnson added that it is "highly doubtful" that Door Boy and Knockavilla will run in the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase at Aintree on Saturday, which has attracted 12 entries, including the Nicky Richards-trained Monet's Garden and Jonjo O'Neill's Albertas Run.

Tom George will run Tartak, however, and hopes he can make up for lost time. Though he ran some good races in defeat last season, the seven-year-old has not won since taking a novices' chase at Aintree in April 2009.