 |
 |
|
|
|
racing news |
| Tweet |
racing news /
Curtis Aims Duo at Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
09/12/10
Pembrokeshire trainer Rebecca Curtis is set to pitch Old Wigmore and Teaforthree into a fantastic renewal of the £25,000 Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (3.40pm) over three miles on Saturday, December 11, day two of The International at Cheltenham.
Both promising contenders are graduates of Irish point-to-points and each opened their hurdling accounts last time out. Old Wigmore scored on his hurdles debut by a commanding five lengths at Hereford on November 7. Teaforthree made it second time lucky in that sphere when three lengths too good for Top Benefit over the distance at Ffos Las on November 22.
Curtis revealed: “As things stand, we will probably run both Old Wigmore and Teaforthree in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
“Old Wigmore did it well at Hereford last time and he seems to have improved from his run. All he does is stay so Cheltenham should suit him. I think he would be happier on good ground rather than anything softer.
“I’m hoping he will make a nice chaser in time. He is still slightly backward and weak if anything, so I think next year, after a summer at grass, we will be looking forward to even better things over fences.
“Teaforthree ran well last time - it was the first time we ran him over three miles, which he has needed. Cheltenham, with that stiff uphill finish, should suit him too. He jumps really well and goes on good ground - we are looking forward to a good run from the pair of them.”
Other notable contenders among the 20 entries for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle are the Emma Lavelle-trained pair of Court In Motion and Highland Valley, while Nicky Henderson could run Cavite Beta and Mossley.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls could saddle Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper runner-up Al Ferof and Join Together.
Stable staff involved in the £15,000 Injured Jockeys’ Fund Oaksey House Novices’ Chase (12.10pm), the opening race on Friday, December 10, could benefit from the generosity of a mystery benefactor’s £1,000 donation.
The groom responsible for the best turned out horse prior to the race will receive £500 while a further £500 is to be awarded to the groom of the horse that wins the Injured Jockeys’ Fund Oaksey House Novices’ Chase.
The two-mile, five-furlong contest has attracted a high-class entry with a trio from the Paul Webber stable that includes last season’s Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle runner-up Time For Rupert, impressive when defeating Hell’s Bay over the course at The Open last month. Sarando and Space Mission are the other possible Webber-trained contenders.
 |
Nicky Henderson has engaged Spirit River, victorious in the Grade Three Coral Cup at The Festival, who looked a natural until taking a novicey fall in a Grade Two at Newbury recently, while stablemates Rackham Lerouge, Radium, Quantitativeeasing and Surfing could also line up.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has a strong hand to play with his potential runners including the hat-trick seeking Rebel De Maquis, successful at The Showcase in October, and the classy Royal Charm, impressive on his only chase start at Exeter on November 9.
The Philip Hobbs-trained Tarablaze won at Exeter on December 5, while stablemate Wishfull Thinking benefited form the fall of Robinson Collonges to win the Grade Two Rising Stars Novices’ Chase over the distance at Wincanton last month.
Howard Johnson has engaged a trio of potentially useful novices in Alvarado, successful on his only start over fences at Carlisle in October, The Knoxs and Milan’s Man.
Fredo and Othermix may represent Alvechurch trainer Ian Williams and Emma Lavelle could saddle the high-class Bouggler.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Coote Hill, fourth to Wishfull Thinking at Wincanton, Vino Griego from the Gary Moore yard, the Tony Martin-trained Hegrid and the Gordon Elliott-trained Jessies Dream also hold entries in the Injured Jockeys’ Fund Oaksey House Novices’ Chase.
Lisa Hancock, Chief Executive of the IJF, commented: “Cheltenham kindly let the IJF know that this race had become available for sponsorship and we are extremely grateful to the very generous financial support we received from an anonymous supporter.
“The race offers us a great opportunity with the trading season for our Christmas cards and other products in full swing. The Christmas season is such an important time for the IJF.
“The IJF is fortunate to have extremely loyal supporters and we cherish their continued backing.”
GROUND
The Chase and Hurdle course at Cheltenham was covered in its entirety on Sunday with frost covers and these will remain in place until Friday morning. The take-offs and landings have been covered on the Cross Country course.
The current forecast is for temperatures to drop to minus four or minus five degrees Celsius overnight on Wednesday with a daytime temperature of plus two degrees Celsius on Thursday.
Temperatures are then predicted to rise on Friday and Saturday and the course remains confident of racing going ahead as planned.
The going at Cheltenham is currently:
Chase & Hurdle Course: Good (covered)
Cross Country Course: Good, Good to Firm and Frozen in places (covered in places)
