Binocular and Solwhit have both been left in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at the six-day stage. The former had been expected to miss the Cheltenham Festival but could book his place in the line-up if pleasing connections when working this week.
Binocular still in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham
Solwhit had been challenging for favouritism before scoping badly on Monday and he faces a race against time to be fit for the big race. Two notable absentees are Dunguib and Quevega but both have alternative Cheltenham Festival targets with the former heading to the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Quevega defending her crown in the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson, trainer of Binocular, has declared last year’s winner Punjabi and Zaynar. Celestial Halo, second in the race last season, is set to represent Paul Nicholls.
A strong Irish team is headed by Go Native and also includes Donnas Palm, Ebadiyan, Jumbo Rio, Kargali, Muirhead, Raise Your Heart, Royal And Regal, and Won In The Dark. Khyber Kim, Medermit and Starluck complete the declarations.
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TATANIANO AND LONG RUN TAKEN OUT OF ARKLE CHASE
Tataniano and Long Run do not feature among the 17 six-day acceptors for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham on Tuesday. The former, trained by Paul Nicholls, bypasses Tuesday’s two-mile novice championship to instead run in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase on Friday.
“He’s absolutely fine, but we just didn’t think he was good enough for the Arkle and he’s going to go for the Grand Annual instead,” said owner Andy Stewart. It was obviously disappointing when he was beaten by a horse of Emma Lavelle’s (Suntini) at Newbury last time and while he could be placed in an Arkle, he probably wouldn’t be good enough to win it. Novices have a reasonably good record in the Grand Annual and he should have a good chance of winning that, so hopefully it works out. We obviously lined Poquelin up for the Grand Annual last year but that didn’t work out, so hopefully Tataniano can do the business. I may still have a runner in the Arkle as I own Nomecheki, so we’ll see.”
Paul Nicholls is now set to rely on Woolcombe Folly while Long Run waits for the RSA Chase.
Market leaders Captain Cee Bee and Sizing Europe speadhead a strong Irish challenge which also includes the Willie Mullins-trained trio of Quiscover Fontaine, Shakervilz and Sports Line.
The home team is headed by Somersby and Riverside Theatre, the latter set to be joined in the field by stablemate Mad Max.
Kangaroo Court, Leo’s Lucky Star, Nomecheki, Shoreacres and I’m Delilah are the other British-trained acceptors while Foster’s Cross, Nicanor and Osana complete the Irish team.
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