MAC THE MASTER
CRACK French trainer Guillaume Macaire, noted for his previous successful raids to these shores, hopes to rekindle those glory days with Master Dino at Plumpton on Sunday.
Master Dino, considered the best hurdler in France last year, will have his second outing over fences in a two mile and three furlong novice chase at the Sussex track.
The five-year-old looked an exciting recruit to chasing when romping home effortlessly by 30 lengths at Auteuil in November.
Connections now have their eyes on the JLT Chase at the Cheltenham in March and success at Plumpton would put the gelding in line for a £60,000 bonus if he can land both races. Ladbrokes offer 16-1 about Master Dino for the JLT Chase. Macaire gained widespread recognition with Jair Du Cochet who beat triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner
Best Mate in the 2003 Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon.
“I have not brought many horses to Britain recently because it is not wise for business to compete with horses I have sold in the past,” said Macaire, who was crowned French champion jump trainer for the 14th consecutive time in 2018.
Big Buck’s was a notable star Macaire sold before he won 18 successive hurdle races for Paul Nicholls. Anthony Bromley, representing owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: “The plan is to run Master Dino at Plumpton on Sunday and Daryl Jacob (retained by the owners) will take the ride.”
In past James Reveley, who successfully rode in England before joining Macaire, had been on the gelding’s back in all of his previous 18 races. “It will be interesting to see how he gets on over English fences and we wanted to come over and see how he adapts to it,” said Bromley.
“If things went well, we’d be looking at the JLT Novices’ Chase.”
Gordon Elliott could be represented in the Plumpton contest with last year’s Pertemps Hurdle Final second Glenloe. Barry Geraghty has been booked to take the ride.