One Hit Wonders - Northern Trainers
06 Mar 2008
By Gordon Brown
The North is well-represented at this year's Cheltenham Festival and not just by Ferdy Murphy and Howard Johnson. Up and coming Malton trainer John Quinn has high hopes for Leslingtaylor and Blythe Knight while anything Nicky Richards sends down from Greystoke is always worth a second look.
I also have a sneaking suspicion that Len Lungo fancies his sole raider while little known livery yard owner Alistair Brown expects a big run from a representative from his base in the borders. Read on and all will be revealed!
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TUESDAY
2.35 Arkle Trophy Novices' Chase
LESLINGTAYLOR
John Quinn
Winner of last year's Swinton Hurdle and unbeaten in both completed starts over fences. Still going well enough when falling four out in unsuitable heavy ground at Cheltenham. Claimed notable scalp of Tidal Bay at Doncaster in February and will appeal to many as a value-for-money price.
"He deserves to take his chance and if I thought he was a no-hoper he'd be stopping at home. He's very professional and I just hope they go a blistering pace as he'll settle like a dream. Good ground should be fine as he hated the heavy and couldn't jump out of it when he fell at Cheltenham in November. He's a very sound horse and I couldn't be happier with him at the minute.
3.15 Champion Hurdle
BLYTHE KNIGHT
John Quinn
Had been competing in Group 2 & 3 contests on the Flat prior to flopping when fancied for the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in early December. Won Grade 2 novices' hurdle at Aintree last spring and was more like his old self when chasing home Katchit in Kingwell Hurdle recently.
"He was over the top when in the Fighting Fifth, probably because he'd been kept busy on the Flat. We gave him a rest and he bounced back at Wincanton. I'd say he'll improve a fair bit for that and the fast and furious pace of the Champion will suit him down to the ground."
WEDNESDAY
2.00 Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle
MIDDLETON DENE
Nicky Richards
Has earned a crack at the big time after some solid efforts this season including when winning over course and distance in October. Goes on good or good to soft ground and is still on the upgrade. Could produce a moment dreams are made of for Rose Davidson on a horse owned my her father and mother.
"He's a lovely uncomplicated horse and Rose gets on very well with him. He'll go chasing eventually but he's kept his form going from the summer right through. We've been running him at around two and a half miles but he'll stay further."
4.00 Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle)
BEDLAM BOY
Nicky Richards
Won in maiden and novice handicap company on soft ground this time last year and was creditable third to Tidal Bay in Grade 2 event at Aintree.
"He's a horse that used to live on his nerves but the penny is dropping and I think he's still improving. He's got the old fashioned pedigree of a chaser and that will be his game one day. He'll stay three miles so the Cheltenham trip shouldn't pose any problems and a drop of rain wouldn't go amiss."
THURSDAY
3.15 Ladbrokes World Hurdle
CHIEF DAN GEORGE
Jimmy Moffatt
Claimed the scalp of Wichita Lineman in Grade 1 at Aintree last April but has taken time to find his feet this time round. Tried in visor and found a little improvement for cheekpieces last two runs at Haydock.
"We were especially pleased with his fourth to Inglis Drever in the Cleeve Hurdle as he stayed on all the way to the line. He's in good nick at the moment and a little bit of easing in the ground would help us. He's seems to come to life in the spring so it's approaching his time of year and we're going back to Aintree after the Festival."
5.20 Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle)
GUNNER JACK
Nicky Richards
Made an encouraging return from injury when a cracking second at Haydock last month. Stays well and highly-regarded by connections following earlier wins in Carlisle novice hurdle and Ayr bumper.
"He picked up a little injury after just one run last season which was disappointing as we reckon he's an exciting prospect. He's still inexperienced and is sticking to hurdles for now but what a chaser he'll be one day."
WILD CANE RIDGE
Len Lungo
A fine looking type who was second over this course and distance in a qualifier back in December. Plenty of winning form over hurdles and fences and stays extremely well. Has won going right-handed but last 16 races have all been on anti-clockwise circuits.
"Our plan has always been to go for the Pertemps and then have a crack at the Scottish National in April. He's always been very athletic and goes on any ground unless it gets too fast. He's been put up 10lb for winning over hurdles at Ayr in January and the blinkers seem to have sharpened him up a wee bit."
FRIDAY
4.00 Christie's Foxhunter Chase
NATIAN
Alistair Brown
Only cost 2,000gns as a three-year-old and has been a real moneyspinner for his small Scottish borders' connections. Gained his third course success when making all at Kelso recently and should come on for that first run in nearly a year.
"He likes to make it and gets on well with Mark Ellwood. I'm sure he'll give a good account of himself at Cheltenham and he's shown us he's fully deserved his chance at the big time."
4.40 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase
CALATAGAN
Malcolm Jefferson
Was on the retreat when falling in valuable chase at Doncaster last month and better judge on win in Castleford Chase at Wetherby over Christmas. All best form at around two miles and clearly doesn't get much further.
"He's in good order but, to be honest, he's handicapped up to the hilt. He's won three times at Wetherby but he's won elsewhere too and seems to be at his best going left-handed. He's been a grand servant over hurdles and fences and he's a horse you don't need to do very much with at home."
5.45 Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle
BORDER TALE
Jimmy Moffatt
A tough little type that has rarely been out of the money in competitive company since last spring. Has form on good to firm and good to soft ground and tends to do most of his racing at around two miles.
"The plan is to go for the Imperial Cup and then the County Hurdle, a race I won in 1995 on Home Counties, who was trained by my father. This is my favourite horse in the yard as he always tries so hard. We've ridden him more prominently recently and he's not been disgraced when third and second at Newcastle and Musselburgh."
BYWELL BEAU
George Charlton
A bit of a Kelso specialist as he's gained all four career wins at the borders track. Jumps to his right over hurdles and, more markedly so, over fences in two uninspiring runs in novice chasing this term. Likes to blaze from the front and is one of the class acts likely to be contesting this fiendishly difficult getting out stakes. "His tendency to go right stems from a problem with one of his testicles being stuck high up inside him and a muscle was probably damaged in its removal when he was gelded. He loves it at Kelso but he's got some engine and operates elsewhere as well - it's just that all his winning has been at Kelso. He makes it and often goes clear but he also manages to settle nicely in front as well. He's never been to Cheltenham before and we thought he was well worth trying in a competitive race like this."
KINGS QUAY
John Quinn
Scrambled home in Grade 2 hurdle at Wincanton in November and was below-form in Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury on softer ground. Had little sharpener on Flat at Wolverhampton recently.
"He's a horse that never wins by that far and he needs to be dropped in. Good ground should suit him at Cheltenham and he'll hopefully be played nice and late off a strong gallop."
PEVENSEY
John Quinn
Needs to put behind poor efforts on last two starts when soft ground was probably his undoing. Won Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer and both hurdling wins have been achieved on sharp tracks (Musselburgh and Catterick).
"He's another of our that I switch between the Flat and hurlding as I think it keeps them alert mentally. He's won on soft ground but is much better suited by good and is a straight-forward little horse."
PREMIER DANE
Nicky Richards
Disappointed in last May's Swinton Hurdle but has earlier ran fine races to finish third in the Scottish Champion Hurdle and County Hurdle. Another solid effort last month was third in competitive big handicap at Doncaster.
"He's tough and loves the hurly burly of these big races. He's got plenty of pace and needs a bit of time between his races so he's had a nice gap since that run at Donny He was over the top by the time the Swinton came round last year."
- attheraces.com
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