Corbetts Cross© Photo Healy Racing
Emmet Mullins is keeping a close eye on the weather over the coming days before committing Corbetts Cross to a crack at the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.
The Cheltenham Festival winner is currently 4/1 second favourite with the sponsors behind Grey Dawning (7/4) for this extended 3m1f Grade 1 test.
The Emmet Mullins-trained gelding raced exclusively on soft ground last season and was particularly impressive when storming home up the Cheltenham hill 17 lengths clear in the National Hunt Novices’ Chase last March.
The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old reappeared in the Listed three-runner Michael Hickey Memorial Chase at Wexford last month when runner-up to Heart Wood, and Mullins reports him in good form saying: “He’s come out of the race good and probably needed the run.
“It was a slowly run affair, so it kind of suited. He galloped through the line well; it didn't bottom him out.
“We couldn't have asked for a better opening, and we are happy where we are."
Mullins added, “We'll see what the weather does. He's not a guaranteed runner (at Haydock) by any stretch at the moment. We are on weather watch.”
The going is currently good but there is the chance of rain/snow today. Temperatures are forecast to be low over the coming days before turning milder and wetter over the weekend.
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