Unexposed Activial out to land big gamble in Ladbroke
The Seaborough handler has never made any secret of the high regard in which he holds the four-year-old and he certainly looked the part when running away with Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton in February.
He fluffed his lines on his only subsequent start on a sounder surface at Aintree in April, but should find conditions more to his liking this weekend and Fry is confident his charge is ahead of the handicapper at this early stage of his career.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with him at home. The more rain we get, the better,” said Fry.
“You don’t get too many chances to run in races like this off a lower weight, hence we’ve held him back.
“He’s only four and he was always going to improve over the summer, and that’s exactly what he’s done.
“It’s a hugely competitive handicap, but this has been the plan since he wasn’t quite going to be ready in time for the Greatwood (at Cheltenham in November).
“We wanted to go for a big handicap off his mark and we’re looking forward to him taking his chance.”
Punters are seemingly in agreement with Fry that Activial is weighted to win, having backed the youngster from double-figure odds into favouritism for the £150,000 contest in the space of a few days.
Fry insists none of the money is his, however.
“I can’t claim to have had any money on Activial, although I wish I had at 12-1 looking at the prices,” he said in his blog on the Stan James website.
“He’s had a couple of racecourse gallops and we’ve been very pleased with him, but it’s over to him on Saturday.
“It’s still a very big ask as well for a four-year-old only having his fourth start over hurdles in public but we’re pleased with him at home and looking forward to it.”
Dan Skelton, like Fry a former pupil of champion trainer Paul Nicholls, enjoyed his first taste of big-race success in last year's Ladbroke as Willow's Saviour sluiced through similarly demanding conditions to emerge triumphant.
This year the Alcester-based trainer has another major contender in Shelford, who has won twice at Chepstow this term, most recently beating subsequent Haydock winner Aubusson, a contender for this weekend’s Long Walk Hurdle.
Confidence is unsurprisingly high in the camp following a significant double at Newbury earlier in the week and Shelford has also attracted market support.
Skelton said: “I think I have him where I want him. While he can be a bit quirky at home, he doesn’t show that on the track, and he loves to get his toe into the ground.
“I’m not surprised to see money for him, although he’ll need to carry on improving if he’s to win.”
Philip Hobbs has been one of the dominant forces of the jumping scene this season and chases a major handicap double with Greatwood Hurdle hero Garde La Victoire.
The five-year-old must carry top-weight this weekend following a 9lb rise and Tom O’Brien gets back on board with stable jockey Richard Johnson suspended.
Hobbs said: “He’s a class horse and has been in very good form. Tom O’Brien takes the ride and has won on him at Taunton, a race run during the Grand National meeting when Richard was at Aintree.
“My one concern is over the ground. I don’t want it to get too soft, although in fairness the ground was soft for the Greatwood and he seemed to handle it fine.”
Hobbs also saddles Hello George, who makes his handicap debut having won and finished placed twice in novice company at Exeter this term.
“He goes well on soft ground but he might want a bit further,” said Hobbs.
“A strong gallop will suit him. He was a bit disappointing at Exeter last time but we’ve always thought a lot about him so I hope he goes well.”
