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Boylesports.com International |
Seven Declared for Boylesports International
11/12/09
Cheltenham stages the second and final day of the Boylesports International tomorrow, Saturday, December 12, and a fascinating renewal of the £150,000 Grade Two Boylesports.com International (3.05pm) is in prospect with Punjabi and Celestial Halo, the first two horses home in last season’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, set to reoppose.
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Punjabi prevailed by a neck from Celestial Halo in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, and is making his first appearance since going down by a short-head to Solwhit in a Grade One contest at Punchestown on May 1. Celestial Halo comes into tomorrow’s race with the benefit of a recent outing, having recorded a facile 10-length success in the Grade Two Elite Hurdle on Wincanton on November 7.
Oliver Brady is hoping that Cheltenham will be echoing to cries of “Up Monaghan” tomorrow afternoon following the Boylesports.com International in which the trainer’s Ebadiyan will attempt to stake his Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle claims.
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The Daylami gelding was third to the well-regarded Torphichen on his most recent start at Naas on December 3. He had previously chased home the victorious Voler Le Vedette and subsequent Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle victor Go Native when fourth on his seasonal debut in a Grade Three at Down Royal on November 6.
Brady revealed this morning: “Ebadiyan didn’t have his ground on his first two starts but he will be getting his going tomorrow. I have been racing him on heavy ground and he just doesn’t act as he should on that type of going, so that’s why I am over here. The ground in Ireland is all heavy no matter where you go.
“The whole idea of having him here is to give us a guide as to whether we go over further or stay at two miles but I think he will put up a big run tomorrow. I think this trip is fine for him, especially with coming up the hill - if they go a decent clip it will suit him and he’ll be staying on at the end better than most.
“I’m coming here to win, that’s the long and the short of it. I’m not coming here for anything else. He wasn’t ready when he took on Go Native and Voler La Vedette first time out this season and he’s a better horse now than he was then. My fella has come on a stone for that run.”
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Also declared for the Boylesports.com International are Khyber Kim, who was successful on his latest outing in the Grade Three Greatwood Hurdle at The Open on November 15, a race in which Medermit finished third under top weight. Medermit, trained by Alan King, also ran a fine race at The Festival last season when only finding Go Native a neck too good in the Grade One Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Ashkazar, trained by David Pipe and successful in the Grade Two Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last season, reverts to hurdles after two outing over fences while the Charlie Longsdon-trained Songe is also switching back to the smaller obstacles.
Tomorrow’s card kicks off at 12.10pm with the £17,000 Cheltenham Military Charity Ball Juvenile Novices' Hurdle for which there are 12 declarations including Sergeant Pink and Ultimate who are both unbeaten over hurdles so far.
The seven-race card also features the £20,000 Ryman The Stationer Novices' Chase (12.45pm) which has attracted six declarations including the Paul Nicholls-trained Inchidaly Rock and Mobaasher from the Venetia Williams yard who both made winning debuts over fences.
A competitive renewal of the £22,500 Jenny Mould Memorial Handicap Chase (1.15pm) over an extended two miles has 12 declared runners including French Opera, a winner at The Open last month and Sa Suffit, who registered a game victory at Haydock last month.
Last season’s 100/1 Grand National victor Mon Mome is among eight declarations for the three-mile £30,000 Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (1.50pm) along with Tell Massini, successful in the Grade Two Cleanevent Novices’ Hurdle at The Open last month.
The concluding race of the Boylesports International is the £42,500 Grade Two Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle (3.40pm) over an extended two and a half miles. Six runners are set to go to post in this contest headed by last season’s JCB Triumph Hurdle victor Zaynar from the Nicky Henderson stable. Unbeaten on his four starts in Britain, Zaynar made a winning a winning seasonal debut in the Grade Two Ascot Hurdle on November 21. His main rivals look to be Golan Way, a Grade Two winner at The Open in 2008 and Cape Tribulation, a Grade Two scorer at Doncaster last season.
Declarations were made yesterday for tomorrow’s feature handicap chase, the Grade Three £150,000 Boylesports.com Gold Cup. There have been no withdrawals from the maximum field of 17, meaning that neither of the two reserves will take their place in the line-up
The going at Cheltenham remains Soft, Good to Soft in places on the Chase and Hurdles course.
Cheltenham has been voted Racecourse of the Year for the sixth consecutive year in 2009 by members of the Racegoers Club
Cheltenham first won the Racegoers Club Racecourse of the Year Award in 1982 and since 1993 has gained that title 14 times in 17 years.
Edward Gillespie, managing director at Cheltenham Racecourse, commented: “We really value this accolade from Racegoers Club members.
“The Award reflects the enormous effort our staff put in throughout the year, often in the most difficult circumstances, and the passion that racegoers feel for this extraordinary place. Long may it continue!”
