Festival attack!
(14) J Snowden 7 12-2 .... Miss Page Fuller (7) 110 (14) D McCain 6 11-4 .......................... Will Kennedy 120 (18) J Haynes 9 11-2 (C, D) ...TDowson(5) 118 (389) T Easterby 6 10-9 ...................... B Hughes — (15) N Mulholland 6 10-8 ............. T Scudamore 97 (14)TRGretton710-1 ................... JMDavies 114
9-4 Made all, went left and hit 3 out, joined next, asserted approaching last, kept on well run-in, eased close home, won at Newcastle 2m mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Feb beating Baby Ticker by 1 3/4l, 4 ran. 6-4fav Led, headed narrowly 3rd, led again after 4 out, clear when came back into view last, driven out, comfortably (poor visibility), won at Ffos Las 2m mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb beating Grace Tara by 8l, 5 ran. 6-1 Held up in rear, took keen hold, closed after 5th, challenged on inside 2 out, soon squeezed through to lead, clear from last, stayed on, won at Carlisle 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Feb‘16 beating Cherry Bomb by 19l, 8 ran. 7-2 Chased leaders, ridden to challenge 2 out, stayed on same pace from last, 3rd of 5, 10l behind Lady Markby at Market Rasen 2m 3f mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb. 66-1 Mid-division, headway after 3 out, in touch next, kept on same pace, never involved, 9th of 17, 22l behind Dreamcatching at Wincanton 1m 7f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
12-1 Led, driven when challenged from 2 out, headed after last, kept on well, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Lady Markby at Market Rasen 2m 3f mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb. MALCOLM JEFFERSON is set to launch a three-pronged assault on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
The Norton-based trainer is no stranger to success at the showpiece meeting. Tindari and Dato Star were both Festival winners in 1990s, while in 2012 Jefferson enjoyed a double with Attaglance and Cape Tribulation, both of whom followed up at Aintree a few weeks later.
This year’s small but select team is headed by Cyrus Darius, who will line up in the Stan James Champion Hurdle as a big outsider.
The eight-year-old bolted up at Aintree in the spring of 2015, but was injured on his chasing debut at Perth and was sidelined until his comeback at in the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock in January.
Having blown away the cobwebs, he got back on the winning trail in last month’s Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso and Jefferson is hoping his 66-1 shot can outrun his odds.
“We think it’s worth taking a chance with Cyrus Darius in what looks an open Champion Hurdle,” said the trainer.
“I was delighted with his first run back at Haydock. He was bang there until the second-last, so it was a very good run for such a big horse who’d been off a long time.
“He quickened up well to win at Kelso, he’s got sporting owners and we’ll see what he can do.
“On his Aintree form, I think he’d have a bit of a chance.”
Cloudy Dream, who won his first two starts over fences before bumping into Buveur D’Air at Haydock and Forest Bihan at Doncaster, is set to take on the mighty Altior in the Arkle Trophy.
Jefferson’s third and final runner at this year’s Festival will be Double W’s, who will contest the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase.
Jefferson said: “All being well we’ll run the three of them on the first day and they all seem good.”