Ascot trip a possibility for Wincanton winner Killer Clown
- Jonathan Doidge
- 12 January 2022
Emma Lavelle says Killer Clown has emerged from his wide margin Wincanton win on Saturday in fine form and she is considering a trip to Ascot for him next week.
The eight-year-old produced a career-best to rout a field of good handicap chasers under Tom Bellamy at the west country track, for which he has been put up 7lb by the handicapper.
Next on the agenda for the son of Getaway could be the journey to Berkshire on Saturday week.
The Tim Syder-owned gelding is now up to a revised mark of 142, although any thoughts of a trip to the Cheltenham Festival are on the back burner for now.
Lavelle said: "Killer Clown went up 7lb which is fair enough and he seems to have come out of the race well, so that's great.
"If he was very bright, we might look at Ascot (bet365 Handicap Chase on Saturday week), but at this stage I'm happy with where we are rating-wise and we will make some decisions in the next week.
"There is no point going to the well too often at this time of year."
Although Killer Clown has taken time to blossom, the Ogbourne Maizey handler has always thought a lot of him and the key to his improved form has been the addition of a tongue tie.
Lavelle added: "He is a smasher, he really is. He has run well, but had not gone on as much as we had hoped and I think the tongue tie has made a big difference to him, because he definitely saw his race out well.
"He didn't have to do too much on Saturday, but he did gallop out to the line and certainly on his work at home, it seems to have made difference to him."
However, long-term targets may not include a trip to Prestbury Park.
"There are some nice two-and-a-half-mile handicaps in the spring, with some nice prizes to go with it. I don't know that Cheltenham would be the right sort of place to go with him," she added.
"As for Aintree, you are struggling on the Mildmay track for two-and-a-half-mile races with him and then you finish up looking at the Topham or something. I don't know - we'll see. There are options out there."
