Rosa primed for Cleeve return
Royal Rosa has been cut into 10-1 by Coral for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle ahead of his return to action at Cheltenham on January 28.
Howard Johnson is hoping the ground will be soft enough to allow the seven-year-old to take his chance in the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle after almost 12 months off the track.
The crack novice has been sidelined since injuring a tendon when third in the Rendlesham last February and is a possible replacement for his sidelined stablemate Inglis Drever at the Festival.
“One of mine will run in the Cleeve and if I can get a racecourse gallop into Royal Rosa, then he’ll run – ground permitting,” said Johnson.
“He wants it a bit on the soft side. He’s fine and he’s not far away.
“He had a hole in his tendon but he’s had stem cell treatment and he’s good now.
“He’s hopefully my fill-in with Inglis Drever being off but it all depends on the ground for Royal Rosa. He doesn’t want quick ground.”
Royal Rosa will be making his seasonal debut in the Cleeve Hurdle for the second successive season after coming hoe seventh behind Patriarch Express last term.
However, should the ground rule him out, Johnson has a strong team of possible replacements with last season’s Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle hero No Refuge and JCB Triumph Hurdle third Akilak ready to fill the void.
“Akilak could go for the Cleeve but he runs in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Carlisle tomorrow and it depends on how he runs as to whether he goes. It may come too quick for him,” Johnson added.
“No Refuge is well and, if Royal Rosa runs, then he’ll probably go to Lingfield next weekend instead.”
Ladbrokes World Hurdle, Coral bet: 4-1 No Refuge, Baracouda, 11-2 Rhinestone Cowboy, 7-1 Asian Maze, 9-1 Golden Cross, 10-1 Royal Rosa, My Way De Solzen, 12-1 Ambobo, Black Jack Ketchum, 14-1 Attorney General, Mighty Man, Molin Riche, 16-1 Al Eile, Crystal D’Ainay, Patriarch Express.
