Liberman gets vote of confidence

The former owner of Weatherbys Champion Bumper favourite Liberman has given his new connections hope of victory in Wednesday’s Grade One event at Cheltenham.

Owner David Johnson said: “Liberman is one of my big hopes for the week. His breeder Pat O’Donovan rang me at the weekend to wish me luck. He said that the horse ran at Bellewstown on his final start in Ireland to see if he would go left-handed and up and down hills like at Cheltenham.

“After his victory there Pat says Paddy Mullins told him the horse would win at Cheltenham. I was thrilled with his first run for me behind Rhinestone Cowboy.

"We were beaten by a length but we gave the winner 10lb. On that form, Liberman would be favourite for the Champion Hurdle.”

Liberman, the 3-1 market leader for the Champion Bumper with Coral, has not raced since that run at Cheltenham in November.