Wetherby expect christmas fixture to go ahead

Wetherby anticipate no problems for their two-day Christmas meeting, which starts on 27 December and features the Castleford Limited Handicap Chase over two miles for which Direct Route is top weight.

Wetherby anticipate no problems for their two-day Christmas meeting, which starts on 27 December and features the Castleford Limited Handicap Chase over two miles for which Direct Route is top weight.

The stand-by all-weather fixture for Southwell on Tuesday will not now be utilised. Potential stand-by meetings at Wolverhampton on Thursday, 30 December and Lingfield on Friday, 31 December will be considered after weather forecasts tomorrow and on Monday respectively.

Brother Of Iris, a Cheltenham Gold Cup contender, is recovering from the setback that forced him to miss Ascot the Tote Silver Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot on Saturday. Mary Reveley, his trainer, may run the progressive six-year-old in the Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase at Doncaster on 29 January for which he has been allotted 11st 13lb.

Docksider has been retired to stallion duties at the Airlie Stud near the Curragh. Docksider was narrowly beaten in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Gulfstream Park, before winning the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin.