Foxhunter fancy Ask The Weatherman tunes up at Wincanton

Ask The Weatherman attempts to strengthen his position towards the head of the betting for the Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival when he runs at Wincanton on Thursday.Stabled in Somerset with champion point-to-point trainer Jack Barber, the eight-year-old is second-favourite for the so-called amateur riders' Gold Cup in March.He did nothing to tarnish his reputation in a race at Larkhilll on January 8, when he eased home by 15 lengths under Will Biddick, who is back on board at Wincanton for the Stewart Tory Memorial Open Hunters' Chase.Barber, whose grandfather, Richard, won the Foxhunter four times as a trainer, said: "He's in good form, and we'll know more about him after Wincanton." He won very comfortably last time and this a perfect race for him to get that experience over the bigger fences. "He's a very good horse - he's run nine times and won eight of them - but he'll be having his first run under Rules so it will be a good test for him. "He's been working well and definitely has every right to be there (Cheltenham)." Ask The Weatherman takes on six rivals at Wincanton, with Barber's former mentor Paul Nicholls responsible for the 12-year-old Rebel Rebellion.