FEATURE SPOTLIGHT ON TRAINERS
Gelino Bello “We did the right thing with him at the end of last season missing Cheltenham and going for the Grade One at Aintree. He loves a flat track, but he has run well at Cheltenham twice. He stays well and he will make a lovely, staying novice chaser. He came of age at Aintree. He travelled well and jumped very nicely. I’d probably start him over 2m 6f before going back up to three. He could possibly have the Kauto Star at Kempton Park as a first half-season target. If he jumps fences well, he will go further than he has done over hurdles already.”
McFabulous “He was going to go over fences last season, but he had a setback, so we decided to stay over hurdles for another season. He could be one to go to that first Chepstow meeting and then the Rising Stars at Wincanton. Places like Kempton Park really suit him. Up until now, Cheltenham hasn’t really suited him. A race that would suit him at Christmas is the Kauto Star at Kempton Park. He has always schooled over baby fences. I don’t think fences will be a problem to him. He is a very smart horse and we have been itching to go chasing with him.”
Stage Star “He won the Challow Hurdle at Newbury last season. He is a two-and-a-half mile to 2m 6f horse but he might get further. He is a bit like Bravemansgame in that I would put a line through the spring. I shouldn’t have run him at
Cheltenham on that ground, and then he was over the top at Aintree. Hopefully, we will start him off on decent ground in Chepstow in October. Stage Star was progressive over hurdles. Who knows where he will end up, but he is a lovely horse to go novice chasing.”
NICKY HENDERSON
Constitution Hill “You can nearly call him a bit of a freak. You just never know with these horses, and ones like him do happen. We have all just got to pray that he comes back the same horse when we start all over again. What we saw last season should make him very exciting this season, but there is a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and March.
“His objective this season is the Champion Hurdle. The great thing would be to have one
meeting with Honeysuckle. Which route we take I’m not sure, as Epatante is still there. It is very possible that he has to take the same route in going to the Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdle.
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