Stayers’ Hurdle prospects have Fry aiming high
HARRY FRY feels Unowhatimeanharry’s ‘streetwise’ nature has been a key facet behind his exceptional run of form ahead of the Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle.
The nine-year-old is unbeaten in his last eight starts, including in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 12 months ago, and is likely to be sent on his way at very short odds for the feature race on day three at the Cheltenham Festival.
‘It’s exciting,’ said Fry. ‘Obviously, we’re looking forward to it enormously. Every run last season he kept on surprising us. He was backed as if he’d already won first time out for us, but we didn’t know what we had and he’s just kept on winning.
‘He’s streetwise — really hardy — and that’s why we don’t really know what we’ve got as he doesn’t fly up the gallops. He only works as well as the horse he works with. Barry (Geraghty) got off last time and said he was only doing enough.
‘Hopefully if he can turn up in the same sort of form he’s been in all season, he’ll run a good race.’
Cole Harden won this race two years ago and is back for another go. The eight-year-old has not hit the mark since then, but recent performances have encouraged trainer Warren Greatrex.
Greatrex said: ‘He schooled on Tuesday morning and seems in really good form. I can’t wait to get him running.
‘The way he has come back this season has been absolutely brilliant because last year I was scratching my head and I didn’t know where we were going.
‘He had a knee problem in the summer, we seem to have got that sorted and he’s been brilliant this year. On better ground and being a spring horse, he must have every chance.
‘We respect everyone but I know it will take a good one to get past him.’
Jezki, the 2014 champion hurdler, has been declared by Jessica Harrington, who is hoping the Cheltenham ground continues to dry out.
‘He’s a nine-year-old now, which is probably not that old and he seems to be in good form,’ said Harrington.
‘Before he won the Champion Hurdle he finished last of four on heavy ground at Leopardstown. We know he doesn’t like heavy ground.’
Willie Mullins has never won the race but has three contenders from his Closutton yard.
Mullins said: ‘Shaneshill and Clondaw Warrior are both in good form. Clondaw Warrior should probably have been running over three miles long before now.
‘They’ve both got chances in it. It’s going to be tough for them, but they have each-way chances.’
Mullins also saddles Nichols Canyon, who has won seven Grade Ones and will be stepping back up in trip after he fell in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in January.
His owner Graham Wylie told At The Races: ‘He was off the team about two weeks ago as we thought he had two hard races against Petit Mouchoir in Ireland over two miles.
‘We always planned to have him as a three-mile horse, but he won so well first time out (Morgiana Hurdle) we kept him at two miles and with the issues with Annie Power and Faugheen, that’s what we were planning.
‘We were going to give him a rest and leave him fresh for Punchestown, but he’s started showing his spark on the gallops according to Willie and he’s back on the team.’
Paul Nicholls is responsible for Zarkandar, who has twice been placed in the race and returned to winning ways at Haydock last month.
‘Zarkandar has done nothing but improve since he had a wind operation at Christmas,’ Nicholls enthused.
‘I say wind op — we cauterised his palate, just tweaked it — and he seems to be fine after his Haydock Park win. The Stayers’ Hurdle will be different type of race, but he is definitely in the mix.’
Noel Meade is cautiously optimistic about the chances of Snow Falcon, runner-up to Shaneshill in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran on his last outing in January.
Meade said: ‘His form stands up really well, we took him to England and he was certainly travelling well when he fell at Newbury behind Unowhatimeanharry in the Long Distance Hurdle.
‘English-style races suit him better than in Ireland as they’re inclined to go a good gallop the whole way, which suits him as he stays very well. He’ll give a good account of himself.’
Lil Rockerfeller missed an intended prep run in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell last month but has long had this race as his target.
‘He’s back in good order now and we took him to Lingfield last week,’ said trainer Neil King.
‘Assuming Unowhatimeanharry is the one to beat, it looks like we have sound each-way claims.’