The much-anticipated Cheltenham Festival is hurtling towards us now, but the rest of the racing world doesn’t stop! We have two runners this weekend to get through first before we head to Prestbury Park next week.
We have a couple of decisions still to make and will likely announce which race Gidleigh Park is set to run in over the weekend, while we have also given Love Envoi the option of the Champion Hurdle, now that Constitution Hill is out of contention. Part of our decision will ride on where Lossiemouth goes…! Whether Love Envoi goes for the Mares’, as originally intended, or the Champion Hurdle, it’ll be her last run before she retires to the breeding sheds.
Saturday, Sandown
Up first is Valadon, who runs for the first time at Sandown in the two-mile Juvenile Hurdle (13:15). He’s been very impressive in his three starts so far, winning twice, and the form of his last run has been franked recently by the runner-up winning nicely at Wetherby. He has, though, been given rather a frustrating handicap of 116, which puts him near top-weight here. We hope he can overcome that and be competitive once again. He’s been working well at home and should have no reason not to run another good race.
Then, Metier makes his return in the Imperial Cup (14:25). It’s his first run over hurdles since running in this race last year, after which he did very well on the Flat, not least winning the Chester Cup in May. He’s on the same mark now as he was when he last won over hurdles, 139, and we’re hoping he can prove himself again here with the conditions to suit. He has plenty of ability, and we’re hoping to see him get his spring campaign off to a good start.
Have a lovely weekend,
Harry