Tell Massini is a horse with Cheltenham Festival quotes worth ducking, particularly given that he is 5-1 favourite for the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle with William Hill. “He has to have soft ground,” Tom George, his trainer, said,
“so we’re not making any plans about the Festival at this stage. If the ground was right he might run, but he’s going to be a chaser next season and everything will be geared to that.”
Tell Massini Enters Cheltenham Picture
Tell Massini’s smooth success completed a double on the day for Tom George, successful in the opener with Olofi.
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle: 5-1 Tell Massini, 10-1 Quel Esprit, 12-1 Reve De Sivola, 14-1 Fionnegas, 16-1 Bobby Ewing, For The Staff, Malakai, Rhyl Accord, Silver Kate, Valentine Vic, Vico, 20-1 Kennel Hill, Moleskin, 25-1 Chamirey, Gorge, Lord Generous (EW 1/4 1,2,3)
In the opening race here, Inchidaly Rock took a while to warm to his task in the novice chase, and looked to have a fight on his hands coming down the hill behind Hey Big Spender, but once his stamina kicked in on the home turn the race was over.
Staying is clearly his game, and while he was quoted for the RSA Chase afterwards, Paul Nicholls is looking more towards the four-miler at the Festival.
“He made a mistake at the ditch and then he got good after that,” Nicholls said. “I’d have thought the four-miler would be ideal for him.”
[...] carries my money is Tell Massini. I think this is a proper horse, a really good one for the future. Tell Massini justified his cramped odds when bringing up his third straight victory under rules with…, in December having previously won the Grade 2 Hyde Novices’ Hurdle at the same venue. he [...]