Blue Bajan team has big plans

Andy Turnell plans to send Blue Bajan down the Champion Hurdle trial route during the first half of the jumps campaign.

The Boylesports Hurdle at Cheltenham and Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle are the main early-season targets for the six-year-old who signed off in the spring with a convincing victory in the Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock.

That success had connections thinking of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, for which he is a best-priced 33-1.

“He’s had the summer at grass and been back in about six weeks. He is in good form,” said Turnell.

“I’m not sure exactly where he’ll start off. It may be something like the Elite Hurdle (at Wincanton in November) and it’s not out of the question he could go for an intermediate hurdle if there was one at the right time.

“His main aims for the first part of the season are the old Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

“There’s also the Fighting Fifth, but the ground is usually soft up at Newcastle so he may not go there. A lot depends on the going as he is a better horse on good ground. We are going down the Champion Hurdle trial route.”

Blue Bajan will be one of the star attractions at an open day at Turnell’s Elm Cross House stables on Swindon Road near the village of Broad Hinton in North Wiltshire on Sunday, September 7, starting at 1pm.