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Boylesports.com International 2007
15/12/07

Osana Among 14 Entries for Boylesports.com International
11/12/07

The lucrative £200,000 Grade Two Boylesports.com International on Saturday, December 15 (3.10pm) over two miles and a furlong is one of the premier trials for the Grade One Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at The Festival in March and could see the Pipe-trained Osana test his mettle against reigning champion Sublimity.

The five-year-old ran with great credit on his seasonal debut in the Grade Three Greatwood Hurdle at The Open, when he carried top-weight of 11st 12lb on soft ground to take the runner-up spot, four lengths behind Sizing Europe who was in receipt of 6lb.

Pipe reported: “Osana is well and could go for the Boylesports.com International, although he’s also in at Ascot the week after so we’re not decided yet.

“He’s a very good horse and we’re happy with his progress.”

The fantastic Boylesports.com International has a 14-strong entry, which includes the Noel Meade-trained dual Grade One winner Jazz Messenger and fellow Irish raider and triple Grade One hero Mac’s Joy, trained by Jessica Harrington.

Other entries are the Alan King-trained Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle winner Katchit who is bidding to maintain his 100% record at the course, the Nicky Henderson-trained Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle third Afsoun and Grade One victor Straw Bear from Nick Gifford’s Findon yard.

Harrington Considers Cheltenham Options For Knight Legend At Boylesports International 06/12/07

Irish trainer Jessica Harrington intends to run the classy Knight Legend at the prestigious and very valuable Boylesports International, which takes place at Cheltenham on Friday, December 14 and Saturday, December 15.

The consistent eight-year-old brushed aside Central House with an impressive front-running display to take the two-mile, six-furlong Grade Three Star Chase at Punchestown in October, and was a good second to Mossbank over two furlongs less on his latest start, in the Grade Two Clonmel Oil Chase on November 15.

Harrington is undecided yet as to whether her charge will take up his engagement in what promises to be a fantastic renewal of the £150,000 Grade Three Boylesports.com Gold Cup (2.40pm) over two miles and five furlongs on the Saturday, or the £100,000 Listed Boylesports.com Cashback Handicap Chase (1.20pm) over an extended three miles and one furlong on the Friday.

The County Kildare handler revealed today: “Knight Legend will run in either the Boylesports.com Gold Cup or the extended three-mile handicap on the Friday. It depends on the ground but he will run in one or the other.

“If the ground is bottomless he will go for the two-mile, five furlong race and if it is reasonable ground he will go for the three-miler.

“He ran a fair race at Clonmel and I was very pleased with his run there. He is grand at present - in good form.

“He was a big weak horse as a youngster and while it is hard to know whether there is much improvement to come, he is in good form this year and we hope there is a good handicap chase in him.”

Knight Legend is a 16/1 chance with the sponsors for the Boylesports.com Gold Cup.

The Sir Robert Ogden-owned Ungaro is a possible starter in the Boylesports.com Gold Cup.

The eight-year-old, the easy winner of the Grade One Feltham Novices’ Chase at Kempton last Christmas, ran promisingly to be sixth of 18 to Millenium Royal in a highly-competitive three-mile handicap hurdle at Haydock on November 24.

The owner’s racing manager, Barry Simpson, revealed today: “Ungaro is in at Sandown on Friday, which is a possibility for him but if he doesn’t run there, then there is a chance that he could run at Cheltenham in the Boylesports.com Gold Cup. I wouldn’t completely rule him out of running in both races but a lot depends on ground conditions.

“He is a small horse that needs good ground, so testing going at any meeting wouldn’t be ideal for him.”

The gelding’s trainer, Keith Reveley, said: “He is fine after Haydock. He just made two mistakes at a crucial stage. I am not saying he would have won the race but he should have definitely been in the first four.

“He didn’t run a bad race considering the ground had gone against him as well. He is ready to race and Barry Simpson will decide where we go next.”

Ungaro is offered at 16/1 for the Boylesports.com Gold Cup by the sponsors.

The Boylesports.com Gold Cup is one of the highlights of two exciting days with £698,000 in prize money at Prestbury Park. The meeting also features the £200,000 Grade Two Boylesports.com International over an extended two miles, in which Harrington’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle hope Mac’s Joy is an intended runner.

A total of 45 entries have been received for the Boylesports.com Gold Cup, the most valuable race of its kind this season, including the first seven horses home from the Paddy Power Gold Cup - L’Antartique, Il Duce, Knowhere, Palarshan, Patman Du Charmil, Bob Hall and Copsale Lad.

Weights for the £150,000 contest will be revealed on Wednesday, December 5.