Howard Johnson today gave Direct Route the go-ahead to make his fifth annual trip down to Sandown`s prestigious Mitsubishi Shogun Tingle Creek Chase meeting.
The County Durham trainer is happy the gelding is in good enough shape to tackle the Grade One feature race, which he won in 1998 and finished second in last year.
His stable-star, fifth in the William Hill Hurdle in 1996 and winner of the Henry VIII Novices` Chase 12 months later, has drifted markedly in ante-post betting for the Tingle Creek amid fears over his wellbeing.
But Johnson, whose gallops have been hit by bad weather, said this morning: 'Direct Route has set off and he will run.
'He has had his problems but we have worked on him and he wouldn`t be on the wagon if we didn`t think he was right. Norman Williamson will ride him.'
However, there was a surprise omission from the Tingle Creek line-up as trainer
Nicky Henderson did not declare ante-post favourite Tiutchev for the race.
The Arkle Trophy winner was the only defector at the overnight stage, leaving a field of six.
Henderson still has Get Real in the #75,000 contest while the line-up is completed by the Venetia Williams-trained pair Bellator and The Outback Way, Paul Nicholls` Fadalko and Oliver Sherwood`s Cenkos.
Norman Williamson is hoping for a big run from Direct Route, who has not raced since last April.
'Obviously ground conditions won`t suit but we`re very hopeful,' the jockey said on the Racing Channel.
'He is a top-class horse and whenever he`s not he`s only a neck behind being top-class. Fingers crossed he will run a big race.
'He can improve for his first run and that would worry me slightly with the ground being so testing but I`m not so sure the ground will really suit Get Real or some of the others. I`m very hopeful.'
