Ground conditions key for Lee

Trainer Kerry Lee says Magic Dancer will only race at Sandown on Saturday week if the conditions are suitable for her charge.

Magic Dancer produced a solid effort when finishing second at Kempton Park in January before then replicating that performance at Ascot earlier this month, with only Al Dancer having too much for the seven-year-old.

Connections are now deliberating where to send the gelding, who is expected to run at the Cheltenham Festival next month, and the Matchbook Imperial Cup at Sandown on Saturday week if high on the agenda.

Speaking about Magic Dancer’s chances of appearing in Surrey, Lee revealed ground conditions will be key in making the final decision.

“The Imperial Cup is very much on the agenda for Magic Dancer, but it all depends on the ground for him,” she told Sky Sports. “I don’t know what they did to the winner, but he was put up 5lb for finishing second. He has been a good horse to the yard.

“His end-of-season target is a very nice 0-140 handicap hurdle at Cheltenham which he won last season.”