Numide faces festival test

Gary Moore admits his Supreme Novices’ Hurdle candidate Numide will have to win the Anglo Irish Bank Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle if he is to make the Festival line up.

A classy performer on the Flat in France, the five-year-old has won both his starts over hurdles for Moore.

Already as low as 8-1 with William Hill for the Festival opener, Moore knows there is no point heading for the ultra-competitive Cheltenham race if he cannot win Saturday’s Grade Two event at Kempton,

“We could do with a shower of rain because Kempton dries out quite well,” said Moore.

“Good ground would be fine but any firmer than that and I would be having second thoughts about running him.

“I’m very keen to run him on Saturday. It was always the plan to give him three runs beforehand and he would need to be winning the Dovecote if he is going to go to for the Supreme.

“If he can’t win the Dovecote and he doesn’t have an excuse, then he doesn’t deserve to be running at Cheltenham.”

Moore could have another Festival hope in Vinmix De Bessy, who puts his Grand Annual credentials on the line in the Devine IAC Handicap Chase at Sandown on Friday.

“He runs on Friday all being well,” said Moore.

“I’m hoping he can get into the Grand Annual, we’ll certainly enter him for it.

“He surprised me how well he won last time but I just wonder whether the handicapper has gone over the top (9lb rise).

“He’s an improving horse though.”