Olofi goes for gold at Newbury
Tom George’s charge ran a storming race to chase home Brampour at Cheltenham’s Open meeting in November and while he has missed an intended engagement since due to a bad scope, the trainer feels his charge is back on song.
“He was going to run in The Ladbroke a couple of weeks ago, but he couldn’t go because he scoped badly. He seems in good form again now, though,” said George.
“He gets into the race with a really nice weight (10st 2lb) and obviously ran a blinder in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham.
“The ground will be a bit softer at Newbury than it was that day, but he’s won on soft ground before and that won’t be a problem.
“He’s still a very lightly-raced horse. He ran in juvenile hurdles having never run on the Flat and he’s only run 12 times in his life.
“He’s a very talented horse and I think there is plenty of improvement in him yet.”
Ubi Ace is a major contender for Yorkshire trainer Tim Walford having already struck at Wetherby and Sandown this season.
“It’s the right sort of race for him and he’s in really good form,” said Walford.
“There’s a bit of rain forecast and Robert (Walford, jockey) thinks that will suit him. I don’t think the ground makes that much difference to him, as long as it’s not extremely soft or extremely fast, which it won’t be.
“He didn’t win far at Sandown, but I thought he won well and the race wasn’t really run to suit that day. He’s 6lb higher in the weights now, so hopefully he can keep improving.
“I was pleased to see Celestial Halo stay in at the top of the weights as he’ll go a good gallop and it means we get in with a nice weight (10st 5lb).
“There’s not much between a lot of them in the race, but hopefully our horse can run very well.”
Tim Vaughan saddles Ladbroke runner-up Rigidity, as well as Irish recruit Ruler Of All, a dual winner for Edward O’Grady.
“Rigidity ran an absolute blinder last time and I couldn’t be happier. He’s in great nick at home. The ground conditions should be perfect and he stays very well,” said Vaughan.
“He loves soft ground and I think he’s an improver. We saw the prize-money on offer and thought why not go for it?”
