>`]]fi[ _Xj \p\ fe =\jk`mXc kXi^\kj
NICK GIFFORD has long held a high opinion of Didtheyleaveuoutto and that belief was justified after the gelding outgunned a smart field at Ascot yesterday.
Having only his second outing over hurdles, the five-year-old had a fight on his hands when Thomas Darby set sail for home, but when asked the question by Barry Geraghty his turn of foot was decisive.
“I’ve always loved him,” said Gifford. “Barry said that would be as soft as he would want it.
“We will avoid deep winter ground. He will have an entry for the Kennel Gate Hurdle back here, other than that we are scratching around.
“He jumps super and the first two home are cracking horses.”
Carrying the JP McManus silks, the gelding will obviously be aimed at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but Gifford will not be running the gelding there if the ground is testing.
“The obvious race is the Supreme Hurdle, but he’s very ground dependent,” added Gifford. “He is a speed horse and Aintree is a speed track, but there is only one Cheltenham.”
Sky Bet clipped Didtheyleaveuoutto into 16-1 from 20s for the Sky Bet Supreme Hurdle.
Nico De Boinville enjoyed the perfect return with a winner on his comeback ride, Wenyerreadyfreddie, having been sidelined since breaking his thumb at Chepstow in October.
But his thoughts turned quickly to his Betfair Chase mount Might Bite.
“It was a tough call to get back in time,” said De Boinville. “You could say, it went right to the line.
“All is perfect for tomorrow and I can’t wait, the ground is right for my horse.
“It looks a Cheltenham Gold Cup in November!”
Might Bite is seeking IMPRESSED: Gifford revenge on Native River, whom he finished second behind in the Gold Cup.
De Boinville added: “When you think of the Betfair Chase, you think of bottomless ground, but conditions have come in our favour.
“He’s matured both physically and mentally from last season. I think he put in his best performance after the Gold Cup when he won at Aintree.”
Paul Nicholls teed up for a busy weekend when Favorito Buck’s took the Davidstow Handicap Chase in the hands of Harry Cobden.
Harry Derham, representing Nicholls, said: “Tomorrow evening, we will be either delighted or gutted. Modus has a big chance at Ascot as does Braqueur D’Or at Haydock.”
For the record, Nicholls sends out 11 runners.
Harry Fry pulled off a remarkable training feat when Jolly’s Cracked It landed the Coutts Handicap Hurdle after an absence of 706 days.
“Hopefully, if he’s fine, we will bring him back to Ascot for the Ladbroke, the race he dead-heated in with Sternrubin in 2015.”