Morrison making no Secret of Squirrel’s Hurdle hopes

Hughie Morrison is going in search of more handicap glory with Secret Squirrel in the valuable William Hill Hurdle at Newbury.

The six-year-old took home the £57,000 on offer for winning the Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle at Windsor last month and is eyeing another enticing pot with £87,000 on offer for the winner at the weekend.

Secret Squirrel was prominent at Windsor and despite hanging left at the business end of the race, he kept on strongly to lead home Paul Nicholls’ Kabral Du Mathan by two lengths.

He was well in contention when he he fell at the final flight in another valuable handicap at Ascot in December, and while Morrison feels Nicky Henderson’s Joyeuse and Alan King’s Favour And Fortune are obvious dangers he is hopeful his charge will post another strong performance.

Secret Squirrel, who has plenty of fans as a flashy chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail, will carry an extra 5lb for the Windsor victory.

Morrison said: “When you’ve got a good two-mile handicapper you basically follow the money don’t you?

“You follow the races. Windsor wasn’t the original plan, but when we saw the attraction of the prize-money, which was more than Cheltenham, we went to Windsor.

“We’re realistic. If you win one of those you’ve done well, you don’t usually win two.

“He chased the pace too much there (at Ascot) and as a result ran very well before he fell. Hopefully he is in as good a form.

“There seems to be a few more lurkers I think I would say in the terminology of the betting fraternity, whether it’s Nicky or Alan. They look to be laid out for this race. We haven’t been laid out.

“We love him so dearly we just want to take him home and ride him around the field. I don’t think there are any particular plans after this.

“It’s one race at a time and after Saturday afternoon he would have had three hard races and we’ll take a view after that.”

Tom Symonds hopes a return to his favourite racecourse will play into the hands of Navajo Indy.

The six-year-old has won twice and finished second on three previous trips to the Berkshire circuit and came home one and a half lengths clear of Queens Gamble on his last visit in the Gerry Feilden.

Symonds has elected to fit Navajo Indy with cheekpieces to keep him concentrating following his fourth-place finish behind Secret Squirrel last time out at Windsor.

He said: “We’re going back to Newbury, where obviously he has run some of his best races.

“We’re hoping the ground is a bit softer which it sounds like it is going to be.

“We’ve put cheekpieces on, just to make sure early on in the gallop we don’t get into the same position that we did at Windsor. It’s obviously a very different track. I hope it will give him the opportunity to travel early and finish strongly.

“He’s been progressive and we’ve enjoyed the ride so far and I’m hoping he can still be progressive, but we’re under no illusions.

“He can run very well and sit in this race. He was very good in the Gerry Feilden and has constantly surprised us, so let’s hope he continues to do that.”

Navajo Indy won a novice hurdle at Bangor on his first run of the season following an extended break and the form stacks up from that race with Gamesters Guy, Brockarno and Land Of Moon subsequently having gone on to win.

Symonds added: “That race has thrown up plenty of winners as has the Gerry Feilden, so the form looks quite strong and it was very nice to have the gap from the Gerry Feilden to the Windsor race so he’s a fresh horse and let’s hope that’s a boon to his chances on Saturday.

“We’re on a mission to find out what he can do over two miles because I do see the horse as staying further, but we’ll see what he can do on a track that he’s done well at and we’ll go from there really. That’s the plan.”