Ante-post Arkle fancy Lalor has been given an entry for the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown.
The Kayley Woollacott trained chaser impressed at Cheltenham last month with a stunning win in the Grade 2 November Novices' Chase and could be set for another appearance in graded company.
Lalor heads a field of ten entries for the main support race on Tingle Creek day this weekend with Diakali, Chesterfield and Defi Du Seuil among his potential opponents at the five day stage.
Woollacott has told her Betway Blog that Sandown wasn't the initial plan for the horse but that he has bounced back from his Cheltenham win in excellent form.
He's come out of the race in great form and although he hasn’t schooled since, he seems in really good order. It would be silly of us not to enter him and at least have a look at the race"
The 6-year-old jumped right to the top of the list for the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival following his success at the November meeting last time out, with a beautiful round of jumping on his first try in public over the larger obstacles.
Connections will surely be keen to avoid a clash with Kalashnikov in the Wayward Lads Novices' Chase at Kempton over Christmas which leaves options limited for a top class novice chaser to gain experience before March.
That must leave this weekend at Sandown as a major option for Lalor with the popular chaser hoping to follow in the hoof-steps of Altior and Sceau Royal as recent winners of the Henry VIII.
