River in rude health
Tom Cooper’s four-year-old hosed up against older horses and is now a general 4-1 chance for the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
A French import, he had been highly tried in his homeland and looks favourably treated on 10st 6lb, which includes a 4lb penalty incurred at the weekend.
“You wouldn’t know he’d had a race,” said Cooper.
“He was very impressive and he’d do more in a serious piece of work at home.
“He hadn’t run on the Flat and in his first ever run he came up against Tatenen and finished third.
“The better ground definitely suited him, he’d done all his racing in France on the soft. He was very lively when he got home.
“With the penalty he should be certain to get in now and Davy Russell will be on him, he was very keen to keep the ride.”
Cooper thinks Forpadydeplasterer has proved himself to be the best novice hurdler in Ireland.
The lightly-raced six-year-old is Boylesports’ 4-1 favourite for the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival following his victory in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.
However, there is still a slight doubt over his participation due to the lack of rain around in Gloucestershire at the moment.
“’Pady’ is super, absolutely super,” said Cooper.
“We just could do with a shower or two, they are forecasting good to soft and that would be fine.
“He’s definitely the best novice in Ireland. It’s hard to read into Aigle D’Or’s form, but Group Captain was a very good Flat horse and he has plenty of experience.”
