Back In Front can confirm status
Edward O’Grady’s exciting six-year-old will have to win if Cheltenham dreams are to remain realistic, but he has to be strongly fancied to sail through this test. On all known form Back In Front is in a different league to his rivals and anything less than a comfortable success will be a major surprise.
The selection’s main claim to fame so far is finishing a creditable third behind stable companion, Pizarro, and current Champion Hurdle market leader, Rhinestone Cowboy, in the Bumper at Cheltenham back in March.
His two outings over flights to date have been rich in promise. At Fairyhouse, on the first day of December, Back In Front made a cracking start when a length and a half second behind the high class Hardy Eustace in the Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.
O’Grady’s horses were then below par for a while and he didn’t reappear until late last month when cosily holding Arch Stanton by three parts of a length at Leopardstown to open his account over jumps.
Norman Williamson’s mount should come on plenty for that much needed outing and can enjoy a nice confidence-booster, before facing a far more difficult task.
Rob The Five, who has often promised to deliver, but has yet to do so, gets the nap to finally put it all together in the Ryan’s Event Cleaners Maiden Hurdle.
He has plenty experience over jumps and was only collared in the dying strides when beaten half a length by Commonchero, successful again next time, in a Tramore bumper last month.
Christy Roche’s Adarma is the choice to take the winners’ Bumper. She landed some decent wagers, despite running green, when scoring by three and a half lengths at Navan before Christmas and can only improve!
Kadoun, caught late when going down by two lengths to Kings Glen at Down Royal, may have his own ideas about the game, but still gets the nod to win the Isle Of Skye Beginners ’Chase.
