Brave worth a bet

OWNER Nick Peacock reckons Wicklow Brave is a brilliant each-way bet for the Champion Hurdle “as long as the b*gg*r” jumps off okay”.

At 164, the nine-year-old is officially the third highest rated horse in the race, behind odds-on favourite Buveur D’Air (169) and the 2015 winner Faugheen (167).

Yet the bay, whose last outing over timber saw him beat My Tent of Yours in the Grade One Punchestown Champion Hurdle in April – was yesterday available at 14s for Tuesday’s showcase.

Since Punchestown, the Willie Mullins-trained Wicklow Brave has been campaigned on the Flat, and Peacock insists the 2016 Irish St Leger winner could have won the Melbourne Cup if he had not been so “quirky” at the start.

“I spoke to Willie and the horse is very well and he couldn’t be happier with him,” said Peacock. “What sort of mood he’ll be in we’ll find out next Tuesday.

“Last year in the Champion he gave them 10 lengths at the start and he ended up being beaten only 14 at the finish.

“He probably would have won in Melbourne had he jumped off at the start. I think everything has been tried on him at one time or another, but he has been around long enough so we’re not going to change him now.

“If the b*gg*r jumps off okay on Tuesday and gives it his full attention – like he did at Punchestown – he’s got to go very close.

“It just depends where his head is on the day. I’ve no idea what is going to happen, but it sure makes it interesting!”

Wicklow Brave was ridden by Patrick Mullins in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle and wore blinkers for the first time.

Peacock said the trainer’s son was set to keep the ride on Tuesday, although no decision had yet been made about blinkers.

“Patrick’s ridden him eight times and won on five occasions, that is not bad,” added Peacock.