Goshen misses Coral Hurdle as just three are declared for Ascot Grade 2

Goshen, one of the most high-profile hurdlers in Britain, was ruled out of Saturday's Grade 2 Coral Hurdle at Ascot due to an unsatisfactory scope, leaving just three declared runners.

Owned by Steven Packham, Goshen shot to prominence when unseating Jamie Moore at the last in the JCB Triumph Hurdle in March with the race at their mercy and, after giving him two pipe-openers on the Flat, trainer Gary Moore had originally planned to start off his stable star's hurdling campaign at Wincanton earlier this month before switching his attention to Saturday's Grade 2 at Ascot.

"Goshen is absolutely fine but his scope wasn’t brilliant this morning," said Moore. "If he scopes clean and everything is okay then he'll go to the Fighting Fifth [at Newcastle on November 28]. If not it will be the International Hurdle at Cheltenham."

Goshen's defection leaves just three runners, with talented mare Laurina set to have her first start since joining Paul Nicholls from Willie Mullins, while Call Me Lord and Song For Someone are also set to run.

Ascot Saturday card

The winners of the last three Betfair Chases, Lostintranslation and Bristol De Mai, feature among five declarations for Saturday's running of the £160,000 Grade 1 at Haydock.

They will be joined by dual King George hero Clan Des Obeaux, who will be reunited with Sam Twiston-Davies for the first time since triumphing at Kempton last December.

The line-up is completed by Bellshill and Keeper Hill.

Bristol De Mai (left) and Lostintranslation will reoppose in Saturday's Betfair ChaseCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Barry Orr of the sponsors reported that Bristol De Mai is weak in the betting, drifting to 2-1 in the face of support for his conqueror 12 months ago.

"It's no surprise to see last year's winner, Lostintranslation, holding firm at the head of the betting at 5-4," said Orr. "He's the only horse to have attracted strong ante-post support and it's conceivable that he could go off odds-on come Saturday

"The flip side of a strong market check for Lostintranslation is the relative weakness of dual Betfair Chase winner Bristol De Mai, who is out to 2-1. Stable confidence is an obvious concern for punters there."

Haydock Saturday card

Orr added: "Clan Des Obeaux has been nibbled at in the betting to 5-2 (from 3-1) and appears to be the one horse which punters are siding with to upset the favourite."

An easy winner of the Troytown Chase at Navan last Sunday, The Jam Man is set for a quick reappearance in the Grade 3 Betfair Exchange Stayers' Handicap Hurdle.

Trainer Ronan McNally has booked conditional rider Maxine O'Sullivan, who will take 5lb off in a field headed by another talented chaser in Kalashnikov.

Betfair Chase runners and riders

Bellshill Ryan Mania
Bristol De Mai Daryl Jacob
Clan Des Obeaux Sam Twiston-Davies
Keeper Hill Adrian Heskin
Lostintranslation Robbie Power

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