Some Present to step up at Cheltenham

Smart bumper performer Some Present is set to step up to Graded company for the first time over obstacles in the Sharp Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday.

An impressive debut success at Leopardstown a year ago earned him a tilt at last season’s Champion Bumper and he ran a race full of promise in finishing second to the brilliant Dunguib.

He made a winning start to his hurdling career at Punchestown last month before going down to Sweeps Hill in a race run at a crawl at the same track.

“At the moment he’s 100% sure to go to Cheltenham and I just stuck him in at Punchestown on Saturday as another option in case something stupid happened,” said trainer Tom Mullins.

“The Cheltenham race is over two miles and while we’ll probably step up a bit later on, we think that’s far enough for him at the moment.

“It was a bit of a stupid race at Punchestown the last day and I’m not saying we’d beat the other horse, but it really didn’t work out for us.

“I think he ended up with a bit of an advantage and we ended up at the wrong end of the stick, but that’s water under the bridge now.

“We’re looking forward to going to Cheltenham and seeing how we get on against the English novices.

“He ran well round there in the bumper last season and it’s nice to go over there and get some experience of the place over hurdles.”