CAPE TRIBULATION should relish Wetherby’s soft ground as he seeks to defend his William Hill Rowland Meyrick Chase title today.

Norton trainer Malcolm Jefferson has engaged Harry Skelton, fresh from his Ladbroke Hurdle win on Willow’s Saviour, to ride his nine-year-old stable star for the first time.

“He’s in good form and he’s come to himself now and he should like the ground. It’s a good race, they all are like this,” Jefferson said.

“There wasn’t a lot available – Denis (O’Regan) couldn’t ride him, Brian (Hughes) is at Sedgefield, Jack Doyle is at Wincanton and Harry’s riding very well.”

Officials at Wetherby, meanwhile, were anticipating no problems ahead of a two-day Christmas fixture.

“The ground was good to soft on Monday morning but we had rain just after 10am so it has been easing,” said clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson on Christmas Eve.

“The forecast was for rain to remain with us for most of the day, but tomorrow and up to Boxing Day is going to be okay with maybe a bit more rain on Friday.”