Detroit gunning for Greatwood glory

Owner Terry Warner has confirmed Detroit City to be firmly on course for the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday week.

He hopes a prominent showing in the £65,000 (€97,332) feature can fuel dreams of Champion Hurdle success next March, for which his charge currently trades at a generally available 8-1.

The Philip Hobbs-trained grey has earned his lofty position in the ante-post market following impressive victories in the Triumph Hurdle and at the Grand National meeting last season.

He warmed up for the jumping season by landing the Cesarewitch at Newmarket over a fortnight ago and will attempt to emulate Warner’s popular Rooster Booster, who landed the Greatwood en route to Champion Hurdle glory at the Festival in the 2002/03 season.

“After the Greatwood, if he went well, then we would go for the Bula (now Boylesports International at Cheltenham in December),” said Warner.

“It depends how we get on really, and we will then know if we can really go down the Champion Hurdle route.

“Philip says he might want a bit further in the long run, but after Rooster Booster it would be lovely to have another for the Champion.

“It can be difficult with the juvenile hurdlers the following season, but he really pleased me at Newmarket. It was the only Flat race he could have run in, and it worked.”