Tyner hoping to jump the Que
Robert Tyner’s eight-year-old landed one of the most competitive handicaps of the season on his latest start and connections revealed it was the culmination of a two-year plan after the race.
Now though, sights are set on the final race of the four-day Prestbury Park jamboree, for which is is 14-1 second-favourite with Paddy Power behind 8-1 market leader Ouninpohja.
“Everything is going according to plan,” said Tyner.
“He did it very well in the Pierse last time. We said we’d wait for that race and it paid off.
“The form is working out well enough. Maralan has won since and Mister Hight and New Field both ran well at Newbury (in the totesport Trophy).
“We wouldn’t run him on quick ground so we don’t mind if the rain keeps falling, we won’t run him on real heavy either, though.
“Philip Enright has ridden him on his last two starts and I would say that he’d be riding him at Cheltenham.
“After this season he’ll definitely be going chasing.
“Young Desperado is also going to Cheltenham, depending on what weight he gets he could run in the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase rather than the Arkle.
“Ruby (Walsh) rode him last time, but I imagine he will be booked up for that.
“Footy Facts is just back in work after pulling a muscle. We were hoping to go for the Brit Insurance over three miles, but it didn’t happen.
“We’ll be looking at Aintree now with him, given a bit of luck. Ground will dictate where he goes, he has to have it soft.”
*Why so Mayo is reported to be in rude health ahead of his bid for back-to-back Christie’s Foxhunter Challenge Cups at the Festival.
Raymond Hurley’s 10-year-old produced something of a shock at last year’s amateur riders’ Gold Cup when he landed odds of 20-1.
But he has since proven it was no fluke by winning at Punchestown, Thurles and Leopardstown and returns to Prestbury Park a 5-2 favourite with Coral to repeat the dose.
“He’s in great form. He had a little rest after Leopardstown but he is back in full work,” said the County Cork-based handler.
“The Leopardstown race came up fairly quick after Thurles so he needed a little break after that but he’s in great form at home and I couldn’t be happier with him to be honest.
“It is a big ask to win any race back to back at the Festival but he is giving us all the right signs at home and it’s all systems go.
“He’s a real fighter and he seems to love a battle. He’s got loads of ability and a very high cruising speed.
“He stays as well – that’s his forte – but he’s not a slow horse.
“I was expecting a big run from him last year and I wasn’t surprised that he won.
“He ran at Leopardstown before Cheltenham and was going very well when he unseated Damian (Murphy) but he thought they would have won.
“He’s going to be entered in the Irish National. We’ll see how he comes out of Cheltenham first though.”
*Adrian Maguire believes Black Jack Ketchum’s defeat in the Cleeve Hurdle has thrown the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, in which he could saddle Celestial Wave, “wide open”.
The former jockey has a live contender in the seven-year-old mare, but she will only take her chance if the ground is on the soft side.
Maguire’s charge has won her last three starts and has established herself as the best staying hurdler in Ireland, according to her handler.
“Everything is fine with her at the moment and I’m just keeping an eye on the ground,” said Maguire.
“Cheltenham gets underway two weeks tomorrow and if it was anywhere else, you would be very confident.
“But Cheltenham does drain very quickly and you would only need four or five dry days for it to be too quick for her.
“I’m in a similar situation to Martin Brassil with Nickname really as both horses need soft ground to be seen at their very best.
“She has done everything asked of her in great style and we couldn’t be more pleased with her.
“I know she is going to have to step up on what she has done if she is to run, but I think there is every chance she can.
“Her form is working out well and she can’t do any more than she has done in Ireland.
“Everyone was talking as if it was a one-horse race but he disappointed and that has got everyone thinking they have a chance now.
“Whatever acts on the day and whatever handles conditions best is likely to win.
“Timmy Murphy will ride her if he is available – he has won on her twice – and if not hopefully Conor O’Dwyer will step in as he won on her last time.”
Celestial Wave is a 7-1 chance with bet365 for the World Hurdle.
*Colin Tizzard is leaning towards the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle with Flight Leader. and unless there is a spate of withdrawals from the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, Flight Leader is likely to remain in novice company at the Festival.
“Unless two or three of the top horses were not to run in the World Hurdle he will go for the novice race but he is going to be left in both races at this stage,” revealed Tizzard.
“It wasn’t until he won at Chepstow that we realised he could be decent.
“He is not a very impressive horse at home, just a very nice horse. He saves all his best performances for the racetrack.
“His form stacks up with the very best all the way through.”
Flight Leader is available at 50-1 for the World Hurdle but as low as 7-2 with Coral for the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle.
