Longsdon looking to avoid pair clashing (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Longsdon looking to avoid pair clashing

8:00am Thursday 7th March 2013 in Sport

CHIPPING Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon wants to avoid a clash between stablemates Vulcanite and Hazy Tom at next week’s Cheltenham Festival.

The JP McManus-owned Vulcanite could tackle the Pulteney Land Investments Novices’ Handicap Chase, the Byrne Group Plate or the Grand Annual.

Longsdon said: “A lot will depend on JP’s plans where Vulcanite runs. He has been crying out for two-and-a-half miles on better ground but I haven’t wanted to run him over it on heavy ground.

“He’s well handicapped.

He’s rated 145 over hurdles yet only 137 over fences. I’d like to run him in the Pulteney Land Investment race and I’d love AP (McCoy) to ride him but if he doesn’t, Noel Fehily will.

“Hazy Tom is in a similar situation in that he has been running over two miles but wants further. I would quite like to split the pair of them up really.”

Longsdon has a team of eight for the Festival with a couple of other each-way chances.

Superior Quality should run in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle after two victories in as many starts, while Ely Brown heads for the Pertemps Final having won two qualifiers.