Tuesday, March 16, 2010
FOR a horse that fell on his first outing at Cheltenham, Garde Champetre has come a long way.
The cross-country specialist that cost €500,000 bids today for his fifth win at the course.
His trainer, Enda Bolger, is responsible for five of the 16 runners as he seeks to continue his dominance of the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase.
The Co. Limerick handler has won four of the five runnings of the cross-country event and both Garde Champetre, successful the last two seasons, and 2007 winner Heads On the Ground are among his and owner JP McManus’s quintet.
Garde Champetre led a one-two-three for connections last year when beating L’Ami and Drombeag. Freneys Well completes the team.
"They are all in good nick," said Bolger. "They travelled over grand. We’re delighted with them and the ground will suit us. They like the dry ground.
"Garde Champetre did it last season with top weight so there’s no reason why he can’t do it again, but there’s Monkerhostin there this time and a couple of Irish horses too.
"L’Ami actually ran better than Garde Champetre in their hurdle prep races. He was only beaten nine lengths by Rite Of Passage so JT (McNamara) definitely wouldn’t swap him at this stage.
"It would be great to win again."
Garde Champetre beat stablemate L’Ami by a distance last year while carrying 11st 12lb. The 11-year-old will attempt to do so again, conceding 8lb to L’Ami and lumps of weight all round to most of his rivals over the three-mile-seven-furlong test.
It may be difficult to look beyond the Bolger brigade, but fellow Irish trainer Henry de Bromhead hopes to break the monopoly with Sizing Australia, who has finished second and third behind Garde Champetre over the course and distance twice already this season.
"Sizing Australia is in good form. I’m looking forward to running him," said the Co. Waterford handler. "Enda’s got a real stranglehold on the race so we’ll try to do our best and see how we get on."
Other entries include 2007 Grand National hero Silver Birch, Cornish Sett, Preists Leap and Lacdoudal.
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