Gary Moore frustrated after loss of Chatteris Fen forces Goshen rethink

A frustrated Gary Moore will have to rethink plans for leading JCB Triumph Hurdle hope Goshen after the BHA decided against restaging the Chatteris Fen Juvenile Hurdle following the cancellation of Huntingdon's fixture on Friday.

Although the 2m4f novices' handicap chase will be saved from a meeting lost due to flooding on parts of the course, the Chatteris Fen will not as the BHA deemed there to be alternative opportunities.

The trainer said: "I did ask the BHA if they could put the race on again but they weren't having any of it."

Gary Moore: frustrated by BHA's refusal to reschedule the Chatteris Fen Juvenile HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Goshen is 7-1 co-favourite for the Triumph with Aspire Tower and Allmankind and is now set to complete his festival preparations at either Ascot or Cheltenham this month.

"He'll be entered for Ascot on Saturday and I'll see how the ground is and what the race looks like. If not, he goes to Cheltenham on January 25. I'd probably edge towards Ascot on Saturday," Moore said.

Goshen has posted two wide-margin wins at Fontwell and Sandown and Moore believes his unbeaten hurdler can handle the demands of Cheltenham.

"I don't see why he won't be as effective around Cheltenham – it all comes the same to him," said Moore. "He's won on the Flat at Brighton and that's up hill, down dale and he galloped downhill at Fontwell."

Botox Has: juvenile hurdler could get an entry in the Ballymore as well as the TriumphCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Moore has another exciting juvenile in his care with Botox Has being considered for the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton next month.

Having won a trial at Cheltenham on his last start in December, Botox Has is best-priced 25-1 for the Triumph.

He finished second to subsequent Grade 1 winner Allmankind again at Cheltenham a month earlier.

"Both of them will have entries in the Triumph and I'm going to speak to the owner as I'd like to enter Botox Has against older horses in the Ballymore as well," said Moore.

"Goshen is a big, strong horse who is nearly fully developed, whereas Botox Has is a horse for the future, which is why I'm minding him as much as I can. He's quite a slight horse, who's only going to get better with time."

A BHA spokesperson said: "Whilst we understand Mr Moore’s frustration at the loss of the Chatteris Fen, having very carefully reviewed the situation we decided against rescheduling the race.

"There were only four declarations for the race originally and with alternative opportunities at Ascot and Cheltenham in the next couple of weeks, we didn’t feel the case for rescheduling the race was a strong one."

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