Winds braced for Triumph storm
The Montjeu colt failed to cut much ice in four starts on the level but won his first two outings over timber with the minimum of fuss.
He ran a fine race to finish just over two lengths behind one-time Triumph favourite Mille Chief, who misses the Cheltenham due to injury, at Kempton last time.
Trainer Charles Egerton is hopeful Westlin’ Winds charge will give a good account at the Festival.
“Everything has gone according to plan with him since Kempton and he goes for the Triumph Hurdle,” said Egerton.
“He’s in good form and I was delighted to see him run such a big race behind Mille Chief, especially as he was giving him weight.
“He’ll handle the ground at Cheltenham no problem and I hope he’ll run a big race.”
Meanwhile Roulez Cool, favourite for the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase, remains on target for the race despite suffering a slight setback.
The seven-year-old is owned and trained by Robert Waley-Cohen and he is the general 3-1 market leader for the amateurs’ event on Friday week.
However, Waley-Cohen has been forced to put Roulez Cool on the easy list for a couple days due to a slight muscle problem.
“He’s had a bit of a setback this morning which will interrupt his preparation a little,” he said.
“Cheltenham is still absolutely where we are aiming, but he has had a setback and will be on the easy list for 48 hours.
“It’s a muscle problem in his quarters, the gluteal muscle to be exact, which will require an easy 48 hours.
“Obviously with Cheltenham only a week away it is not perfect as we won’t be able to do exactly what we want to do with him.
“I just wanted people to be aware that we have had this slight problem and there is just a slight pencil question mark against him, it’s certainly not in ink.
“Cheltenham is the plan, we just wanted everyone to know there has been this interruption to his training.”
Roulez Cool has not raced under rules since finishing second at Uttoxeter last May but he has won a couple of times in point-to-point company.
Cheltenham have announced the six names that form the shortlist for its award recognising “the outstanding contribution made by a Lady to Jump Racing”.
A large number of nominations were received from members of the public, and those shortlisted include women involved in racing in a host of different ways.
The six names in the frame are: Venetia Williams, Sally Alner and Jessica Harrington, representing the ranks of trainers, Belinda Cullen, an equine physiotherapist who has overcome almost 20 years of pain from a racing injury to continue her successful career, Joan Moore, a towering presence in Jump racing in Ireland for decades and Clare Balding, the award-winning broadcaster and journalist.
The winner is being decided by an all female panel of racing professionals and will be announced on Friday, March 12. The successful lady will then be presented with her award at The Festival on Thursday, March 18, the date of Cheltenham’s Ladies’ Day.
Commenting on the shortlist, Edward Gillespie, Managing Director of Cheltenham Racecourse, said: “Cheltenham is proud of this award, which is one of the main parts of Ladies’ Day at The Festival.
“We were delighted to receive so many nominations covering a wide cross-section of the industry and the make up of the final six sums up the hugely significant contribution ladies make across the whole spectrum of Jump Racing. The judges do not face an easy task!”
