Top trainers mark your card
Gordon Elliott Longwood, County Meath Wins-runs 2018-19 232-1,439 Prize-money £4.91m Tiger Roll will lead our team into battle again and we’re hoping he can win the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase for the third year in a row. He’s a legend and never lets us down. Envoi Allen has never been beaten so we’re hoping that will continue in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. He jumps, he stays and he has speed, just like all good horses. One at a bigger price is Column Of Fire in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle. It’s a race I try to win every year and he looks the ideal type for it.
Envoi Allen: “He jumps, he stays and he has speed”
Nicky Henderson Upper Lambourn, Berkshire Wins-runs 2018-19 144-551 Prize-money £3.16m I’ve got to include Shishkin , who has been very impressive in his last two starts and I think he has enough
David Pipe Nicholashayne, Devon Wins-runs 2018-19 44-166 Prize-money £591,762 Our best chance could be Israel Champ in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper. He’s done little wrong, winning at Cheltenham and Ascot. He’s probably got the best form of the British bumper horses. Another one to follow is Chepstow winner Eden Du Houx , who is in the novice races but could run in a handicap. Finally, Ramses De Teille has had a great season and could be aimed at the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
experience – not to mention gears and professionalism – for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, while smooth Sandown winner Palladium is progressive and I hope his massive hike doesn’t scupper his chances in the Boodles
Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. Pym , who is two from three over fences, might be a bit under the radar for the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase if all goes to plan.
Thyme Hill: last year’s Champion Bumper third has won three Graded hurdles
Emma Lavelle Ogbourne Maisey, Wiltshire Wins-runs 2018-19 35-263 Prize-money £710,969 Our main chance would have to be Paisley Park , who’s in great shape and we’re all guns blazing for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle. We won’t run that many apart from him, but Hang In There is a nice horse and he could run in a handicap. We’re sort of putting all of our eggs in one basket, but Paisley Park’s a pretty good horse to have.”
‘Paisley Park is in great shape and we’re all guns blazing for the Stayers’ Hurdle’
Philip Hobbs Withycombe, Somerset Wins-runs 2018-19 107-563 Prize-money £1.34m
I’ve got to start with Defi Du Seuil , who has been a total star for us. He has been fantastic this season and we couldn’t have been happier with him at Ascot. We’re looking forward to bringing Thyme Hill back to Cheltenham. He was third in last year’s Weatherbys Champion Bumper and in three novice hurdles he has won two Grade 2s and a Grade 1. A horse for one of the handicap hurdles could be Pileon . He certainly looks to be going the right way.
March 2020 The Festival 59
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs