Racing: Route's touch of speed to trouble Mill

HOWARD JOHNSON could not believe his eyes yesterday. He had no more trust in Morceli's either. The Co Durham trainer watched at home as White Lea Farm's grey eminence vaulted several of Sandown's fences perfectly before treating another as if it had retreated into his blind spot.

"I just can't believe him," Johnson said. "He's jumping beautiful, like a bunny, and all of a sudden that happens, he just puts down. He's been checked all over bar his eyes and I just wonder whether he's got cataracts. He's certainly got me baffled.''

There are no such worries about the Crook stable luminary, Direct Route. He competes at Ascot against Teeton Mill this afternoon in an effort to defray the costs of the other winnerless four who accompanied him in the van from the north-east in midweek. "Of all the horses I took down there this week Direct Route is tougher than the rest put together," Johnson said. "He went down on Wednesday, ate up and he didn't turn a hair. He's a freak this horse. He goes anywhere and it just doesn't bother him. He's got what it takes to be a Champion Chaser without a doubt.''

And there is the crux. While Direct Route would probably see off Teeton Mill over that championship distance of two miles, the grey would earn the nod when the journey got up to three miles. Here they meet over an intermediate distance and neither side will desire a hard race before next month's Festival cauldron.

"Mine should be all right, but we just want to get a blow into him before Cheltenham," Johnson added. "They'll both be doing their best, but there could be a shock result you know. Just you watch, something will come past both of them tomorrow.''

It is at times like this Norman Williamson must wish the the Dolly technology could be applied to Homo sapiens. He has ridden both Teeton Mill and Direct Route (and is also the regular pilot of another of today's runners, Super Coin) and can hardly have thought their paths would ever cross.

Teeton Mill has been suffering from a muscle ailment as well as the increased attention a horse of his quality generates. Frequent niggles are part of being a racehorse, and jumping animals are rarely in perfect condition. A miner does not expect to emerge above ground with his nails in French manicured condition and neither do trainers expect their charges to be 100 per cent every time they return from the gallops.

Those at Teeton Mill's yard have been genuinely shocked by the constant probing of the horse's condition, especially the emphasis placed on his idle days after the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

The nuts and bolts seem to be that the horse bruised a foot after Boxing Day and then tied up slightly during his first piece of work back, a consequence of the muscle complaint. He was again absent in the aftermath of that but has since been moving sweetly. This eventuality has hardly had the klaxons blaring or lights flashing at Aramstone, though certain reports have been so grave it has been as if the 10-year-old was found with just the three legs in his box one morning.

If he is to succumb today, these trial ground hiccups are unlikely to be forwarded as excuses for Teeton Mill.

A further combatant, Challenger Du Luc, is now in danger of sliding off the end of the bar at the last chance saloon, and the remaining straws are that he is exercising well at home and may be suited by this unorthodox trip. Still he remains a horse referred to as enigmatic if you don't back him, or financially dangerous if you do. A surprise is possible, but neither outside the big two look to be sufficiently potent, or in requisite form, to carry it off. With the ground firming up, the balance has lately moved in favour of Direct Route (next best 2.25).

At Newcastle, the feature race is the Eider Chase, which will be just a second ride in Britain for the former New Zealand professional Michelle Hopkins, who partnered about 60 winners in seven seasons in her native land. Those were the days my friend. Hopkins now comes in for the mount on Ottowa and has most to fear from Young Kenny (3.50), for whom no trip is too long.

It is an old horse, however, who looks the card's, and the day's, best bet. ALL THE ACES (nap 2.45) was 8lb out of the handicap but still fifth in the Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham in December, beaten just over 10 lengths by the winner. There might just be another victory in that veteran body.

Symbol Of Success carries Richard Johnson over Sandown's final fence to win the Stag Handicap Chase yesterday Julian Herbert/Allsport