Kitzbuhel leads nine-strong Scilly Isles field

Kitzbuhel, so impressive at Kempton over Christmas, heads nine entries for the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

If he runs, the spring-heeled grey could give his owner Joe and Marie Donnelly a chance of fortune having seen both State Man and Sir Gino ruled out for the season.

Kitzbuhel led his rivals a merry dance in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase but would be dropping in trip this weekend, with Mullins also entering last season’s Coral Cup winner Jimmy Du Seuil.

There is further Irish interest in the form of Gordon Elliott’s mare Kala Conti, who has looked good over fences to date.

Ben Pauling had been targeting the race with his smart mare Diva Luna but she misses the race with a knocked joint. He has instead entered Mambonumberfive, another winner at Kempton’s Christmas meeting in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase over two miles.

“She knocked a joint on Friday unfortunately and it blew up so I’m afraid she’s standing in a spa for a week,” said Pauling of Diva Luna.

“It’s disappointing she won’t be at the Scilly Isles, hopefully it won’t rule her out of Cheltenham or Aintree. It was going to be touch and go and we’ve decided to do the right thing.

“She’ll just have cold water therapy, it’s not a massive issue and we’ll see where we are at the end of the week and hopefully we can crack on again. She was ready to go on Thursday but on Friday it blew up.”

Mambonumberfive has been doing his winning over shorter and while he has the Kingmaker at Warwick as an alternative option, Pauling feels he would excel over further.

“He’d love the testing ground and I just chucked him in to have another option with Diva Luna out to be honest,” he said.

“We’ve still got the Kingmaker as an option but if this cut up and it looked like he could win it – he’s crying out for two and a half miles really. I was going to wait until next season but if I thought he could win it we’ll have a look and see what it looks like.”

The Sam Thomas-trained Steel Ally has created a good impression over fences in his two runs and as already earned a rating of 150, suggesting he will be no pushover.

Fergal O’Brien’s Sixmilebridge is only rated 1lb lower on 149 in winning his two runs to date this season while Jamie Snowden has also given Wendigo the option, but he could instead run at Ayr earlier in the week.

Stuart Edmunds’ Miami Magic, a winner at Cheltenham last time out, and the Dan Skelton-trained Doyen Quest could also run.

Due to recent heavy rain an inspection will be held at 8am on Thursday to see if the hurdle course is raceable.

Should it be found unfit for racing two extra chases will be added to the card to form a six-race meeting