City protects hurdles mark by making hay over fences

The modern way of running horses over hurdles to protect their handicap chase rating in the run-up to the Randox Health Grand National is being employed in reverse by trainer Anthony Honeyball.

At least that is the theory behind City Supreme’s chasing debut victory after good efforts in staying hurdles, including a close-up fourth in a Pertemps qualifier in January behind Tobefair, favourite for the final at Cheltenham.

Honeyball said: “We’ll try another similar race for him as this is his grade and the plan is to save his mark over hurdles for the Grassroots Hurdle Final at Haydock in April.