Racing: Challenger's new focus on overdue win

Challenger Du Luc, one of the most frustrating horses in training who has finished runner-up in all four of his races this season, will run in a visor for the first time at Wincanton today in an attempt to focus his attention at the finish.

Martin Pipe tries the gelding in headgear in the John Bull Chase hoping that the eight-year-old can gain his first victory since he scored over the same course and distance last February. Pipe took the decision after Challenger Du Luc's most recent and most notable failure when he seemed to have the King George VI Chase at his mercy at the final fence but appeared to be reluctant to battle with See More Business on the run-in.

"He's worked in a visor," Pipe said, "but I don't know if it will solve his problems. He has a good tally of seconds but he has won an awful lot of prize-money from those seconds - more than if he wins here."

Challenger Du Luc faces four rivals today, including the Oliver Sherwood- trained Callisoe Bay, who narrowly defeated him at Newbury earlier in the season, and Trying Again.