George: Tartak's going places

Tartak may have to improve to land the Ascot Chase tomorrow but trainer Tom George says the gelding is not far off from being up there with the best.

With Pride Of Dulcote and Riverside Theatre among the opposition in the Grade One 2m5f chase (3pm), George knows his eight-year-old faces a tough task in his bid to record a hat-trick.

Jockey Paddy Brennan has struck up a great partnership with the grey, who followed up his Peterborough Chase victory with another in the victorchandler.com handicap Chase at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

George said: "I think it is a combination of factors that are coming together for him. He showed top-class form as a novice and was very unlucky to be hampered when fifth in the Arkle Trophy two years ago.

"We had a few blips with him last season but he seems to have matured mentally. Before, he was very excitable and didn't need much work, however now he's more relaxed and needs a lot of work to get ready.

"Paddy has worked him out, he has been helped by a tongue tie - but it is a lot of little things working for him that have me believing he's not far off from being up there with the best.

"If all goes well tomorrow, the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival [March 17] is the aim for him."

Tartak could be the one to take advantage if the Nicky Henderson-trained King George VI Chase runner-up Riverside Theatre fluffs his lines over this shorter trip.

Although trainer Paul Nicholls's Pride Of Dulcote will also be a danger having beaten the smart Punchestowns at Newbury in December.

At Haydock, the totesport Grand National Trial promises to be a real stamina test and that will be right up the street of Silver By Nature, who won this race last year and may well be able to carry top weight to victory (3.20pm).