Racing: Suny Bay is going to Haydock

SUNY BAY was yesterday rerouted from the Coral Rehearsal Chase in favour of a return to Haydock Park.

Simon Sherwood withdrew the dual Grand National runner-up, officially rated Britain's best chaser after his win in last month's Edward Hanmer Chase at Haydock, from the Chepstow feature race.

He said that he will run the nine-year-old at Haydock next Saturday before a tilt at Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown on 28 December.

"He loves going left handed and I am hopeful that Leopardstown will suit him," the trainer said.

"Before then he runs in the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock and if the ground is still soft enough for his liking he will go to Leopardstown."

The Ericsson is the mid-season target for the top Irish staying chasers Dorans Pride and Florida Pearl, and Sherwood added: "I am hoping he will put some of those young pretenders like Florida Pearl in their place."