The latest acceptors for the Grade 1 novice events and the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival have been unveiled. The tapes go up with the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and a total of 66 horses remain engaged in the £100,000 contest, headed by Dunguib.
Very Impressive Dunguib
Last year’s Weatherbys Champion Bumper hero has been perfect over hurdles so far in his career and looks sure to start one of the hottest favourites at the Festival. Rite Of Passage, trained by Dermot Weld and third to Dunguib at the Cheltenham Festival last year, has the £100,000 Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs as his principal target.
The six-year-old is one of 69 acceptors for that event with Get Me Out Of Here another leading player, following his convincing defeat of seasoned handicappers in the totesport Trophy at Newbury. The championship contest for four-year-old hurdlers is the £100,000 JCB Triumph Hurdle on Friday March 19 for which 51 contenders go forward.
Among the market leaders are Edward O’Grady’s recent impressive Grade Two scorer Alaivan and Carlito Brigante, trained by Gordon Elliott.Also taking place on Friday, March 19 is the three-mile £100,000 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. Among the 61 acceptors for this event are Najaf and Tell Massini, a winner twice at Cheltenham already this season.
In the chase division, there are 36 entries remaining in the £150,000 Irish Independent Arkle Trophy over two miles on Tuesday, March 16. They include Feltham Novices’ Chase victor Long Run and leading Irish duo Captain Cee Bee, who won the 2008 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Sizing Europe. Long Run’s trainer, Nicky Henderson, has made no secret that the five-year-old’s much more likely target is the £150,000 RSA Chase on Wednesday March 17.
A total of 34 horses remain engaged in this event with Henderson also responsible for Burton Port and Punchestowns. Also taking place on Wednesday, March 17 is the £75,000 National Hunt Chase, for which there are 52 horses going forward.
Supreme Prices: 4-6 Dunguib, 8 Get Me Out Of Here, 10 Rite Of Passage, 12 Menorah, Oscar Whiskey, 14 Blackstairmountain, 20 Bellvano, Peddlers Cross, 25 General Miller, Loosen My Load, 33 Dan Breen, Flat Out, Ghizao, Morning Supreme, Pepe Simo, Salden Licht, 40 bar
Triumph Hurdle: 5 Alaivan, Mille Chief, 7 Carlito Brigante, 8 Secant Star, 14 Pittoni, 16 Advisor, Notus De La Tour, Super Kenny, Westlin Winds, 20 Me Voici, 25 Olofi, Orzare, Pistolet Noir, 33 Barizan, Cross Appeal, Gilded Age, According, Bothy, 40 bar
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