Best puts all-weather on ice with three runners in Switzerland

John Best leads the British charge at the first of three meetings on the ice lake at St Moritz in Switzerland on Sunday.

Best has runners in three of the seven races on the card, including Berrahri, who was third in the big race of the three-week festival, the Grosser Preis von St Moritz, last year.

The trainer also fields Gung Ho Jack and Eddystone Rock, both of whom are having their first outing at the unique venue, while trainer Oliver Greenall sends out Los Cerritos.

Speaking from Switzerland, Best said: "The horses came out here last Wednesday and have settled in well. The course is as good as I've seen it as it's very hard and thick ice this year which is about 60cm deep. Also it's snowed on top of that to give it grip and the trials they've had have been a great success."

As to his chances of a winner, Best added: "Berrahri has run out here for the past two years but in his race the weights are based on what prize-money you have won. As he was third in the Grosser Preis von St Moritz last year, he has 10st 4lb so that may be a bit tough."

On the other pair, he added: "Eddystone Rock was third on his first run for us at Lingfield last month and goes in the 1,800 metre race and Gung Ho Jack goes in the sprint. Neither of them have run here before so it will be interesting to see how they handle conditions."