2006 race

racing_news/

Richards Duo Chasing Boylepoker.com Glory at Cheltenham
11/12/08

Trainer Nicky Richards is set to be double-handed in the £100,000 Listed Boylepoker.com Handicap Chase (1.55pm), the highlight of day one of the Boylesports International at Cheltenham tomorrow, which has attracted a competitive field of 15. Stable jockey Davy Condon will partner the lightly-raced One Sniff, who has been successful on two of his three starts over fences, including a facile five-length victory on his latest start in an extended three-mile handicap chase at Bangor in April.

Richards commented: “One Sniff has had one or two niggling problems throughout his career and we’ve had to be patient with him. He seems in good form at the moment but he will improve for the run.

“He’s only had three starts over fences so he will also come on for the experience. I was hoping to get a run into him at Newcastle two weeks ago but that was abandoned. I want to get to a racecourse and the Boylepoker.com Handicap Chase looks like it’s going to be a competitive race.

“I think he’s certainly a horse with a bit of talent and I just want to further his education over fences.”

While One Sniff will be taking on the unique demands of Cheltenham for the first time, stablemate Harmony Brig will be returning to Prestbury Park following a creditable sixth on his seasonal debut in the IG Index Handicap Chase at The Showcase in October.

The nine-year-old, who will be partnered by Brian Harding, scored the biggest success of his career in December, 2007, when he took a three-mile Listed handicap chase at Newcastle.

Richards continued: “Harmony Brig is in good form as well and I thought he ran a nice race at Cheltenham in October. It was his first appearance for 10 months and he blew up a bit at the top of the hill but he still ran on up the final hill.

“He’s won a Listed race at Newcastle before and he’s no mug. I would be hopeful that he can run his race at Cheltenham.”

The weights for the Boylepoker.com Handicap Chase are headed by the Paul Nicholls-trained Star De Mohaison (11st 12lb), who was victorious in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at The Festival in 2006. The champion trainer has also declared Grade Two scorer Turko, while David Pipe and owner David Johnson will also be double-handed, with this year’s Grand National winner Comply Or Die and the unexposed Itsmyboy declared. Both horses will represent the same owner/trainer combination that triumphed in the Boylepoker.com Handicap Chase last season with Over The Creek.

Last year’s runner-up Simon will bid to go one place better for trainer John Spearing, and the nine-year-old is set to re-oppose the fifth from 12 months ago, Parsons Legacy, who triumphed in the IG Index Handicap Chase at The Showcase on his latest appearance.

The field is completed by Fundamentalist and Irish Raptor from the in-form local stable of Nigel Twiston-Davies, Grade Two winner Verasi, the progressive Trigger The Light, 2007 Hennessy Gold Cup runner-up Character Building, as well as Possol and Mon Mome, who fought out a thrilling finish in a valuable handicap chase at Haydock on November 22.

A maximum field of 16 has been declared for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeplechase (1.20pm), with Irish trainer Enda Bolger, who has done so well with his Cheltenham Cross Country runners, being responsible for a quarter of the field as he searches for a third victory in the race. Garde Champetre will be bidding for a second triumph over the unique course following his win at The Festival earlier this year, while former course winner Heads Onthe Ground, the high-class L’Ami and 2007 Christie´s Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup victor Drombeag will also represent the Co Limerick handler. Last year’s scorer Wonderkid, from the stable of Tony Martin, is also among a strong challenge of 10 from across the Irish Sea.

Meeting - Boylesports International, Cheltenham Racecourse
Dates - Friday, December 12 & Saturday, December 13
First race - 12.10pm Friday & 12.15pm Saturday
Tickets available from www.cheltenham.co.uk or by calling 08445 793 003.