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Racing News |
Big Guns Considering Boylesports.com International
05/12/06
Connections of the very best hurdlers from both Britain and Ireland today revealed that they are seriously considering running their charges in the £200,000 Boylesports.com International, the highlight at Cheltenham on Saturday, December 9.
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Philip Hobbs is looking forward to running the ante-post favourite for
the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, Detroit City, in the Boylesports.com
International. The four-year-old grey landed last season's JCB
Triumph Hurdle and made a winning seasonal reappearance under top weight in the
Greatwood
Handicap Hurdle at The Open on November 12.
The trainer declared today: "Detroit City is very much on course
for the big race at Cheltenham on Saturday. I am more than happy with
him - very pleased.
"I gather that Hardy Eustace is likely to come over from Ireland and take him on but I have no idea otherwise who he will be up against."
Eileen Hughes, wife of trainer Dessie Hughes, today reported that Hardy
Eustace, winner of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle in 2004, 2005 and
third in 2006, could well head to Cheltenham on Saturday.
Mrs Hughes said: "We are hoping to send Hardy Eustace over to Cheltenham this weekend. The weather forecast looks reasonable but we don't want heavy ground. Winter soft ground is what we would like. The travelling doesn't bother him at all and he's in good form."
Another Irish trainer, John Queally, is also considering the Boylesports.com International for Al Eile, fourth behind Brave Inca in the 2006 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.
Queally commented: "The intention is to go to Fairyhouse on Wednesday but I will have another look at the Boylesports.com International. He's in good form and we think he's back to himself."
Tom Mullins, who has the star mare Asian Maze in his care, is also considering
Saturday's contest, which takes place over two miles and a furlong.
Mullins revealed: "I am considering the Boylesports.com International at Cheltenham for Asian Maze. She has come out of her last race in great shape. To push Brave Inca into third was a great effort and I think we will improve a fair bit from that race."
The Boylesports.com International is the feature race of the mouth-watering
Boylesports International, which comprises of two days of fantastic racing
on Friday, December 8, and Saturday, December 9. All races will take
place on Cheltenham's New Course, which has not been used since May.
The Boylesports.com International is the season's premier race for Smurfit
Kappa Champion Hurdle candidates. Boylesports, Ireland's fastest growing
independent bookmaker, has transformed the prize money and is also offering
a huge £200,000 bonus (£180,000 to the owner, £10,000
to the trainer & £10,000 to the yard's stable staff) to any
horse that can win the Boylesports.com International and the Smurfit
Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 13.
Alan King has entered four-year-old Blazing Bailey, a recent Haydock
winner, in both the £200,000 Boylesports.com International (2m
1f) and the £40,000 Mears Group Relkeel Hurdle (2m 5f 110yds) on
Saturday.
He reported today: "Blazing Bailey is entered in the Boylesports.com International but is more likely to run in the Mears Group "Relkeel" Hurdle as he would prefer the longer trip.
"I just want to keep my options open which is why I have entered
him in both. He is well and has come on quite a bit from Haydock - the
Relkeel may not be the easier option with Black Jack Ketchum in that.
"D'Argent is returning in the Boylepoker.com Handicap Chase on Friday, while Tikram is in the Boylesports.com Gold Cup on Saturday. "
