Greatwood Hurdle

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Farmer Brown Heads Strong Irish Contingent for Greatwood Hurdle
02/11/07

An outstanding total of 58 horses, 18 more than last year, have been entered for the Grade Three £100,000 Greatwood Handicap Hurdle, run over two miles and one furlong at Cheltenham on Sunday, November 18, the third and final day of The Open.

2006 winner Detroit City
© racing-images.co.uk

The challenge from Ireland is particularly strong with 14 entries, as opposed to six at the same stage 12 months ago. Prize money has been massively boosted this year, rising to £100,000 from £65,000.

Irish trainers have twice won the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle since 1990. Colm Murphy’s Accordion Etoile was successful in 2004, while Jessica Harrington triumphed in 1996 with Space Trucker.

Pat Hughes is considering the very valuable race for his progressive Guinness Galway Hurdle hero Farmer Brown, who took the prestigious summer prize by two and a half lengths under Davy Russell.

Hughes revealed today: “I don’t know yet what weight Farmer Brown is going to have in the Greatwood Hurdle and the ground will dictate where he goes, but the race is definitely a possibility.

“He is due to line up at Down Royal this Friday but if the ground is good to firm he will not go there because I will not run him if it is too quick.

“Things worked out at Galway when he got yielding ground. It had always been the target, we just needed the ground to come right and everything fell in to place - the plan worked out.”

Six-year-old Farmer Brown has won four of his last five starts, winning on the Flat at Wexford on August 10, eight days after his Galway triumph, having narrowly failed to win a maiden on the level at Leopardstown in July.

Hughes said: “He improved all last year and I think he has continued to do so. He probably should have won five out of the last five, perhaps.

“He is a very lean type of horse but he is filling out all the time and looks stronger now than he did at Galway.

“He was out in the field for six weeks after his win at Wexford and he has been back in for about five weeks and looks well. There are a few steps before we reach The Festival in March but hopefully he can take them.”

Edward O’Grady, who has won 18 races at the Cheltenham Festival, sent out Catch Me to finish a close third behind Massini’s Maguire and Tidal Bay in the Grade One Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle in March.

Clopf was another one of O’Grady’s stable stars last season, winning a Grade Three Novice Hurdle at Navan by 12 lengths before gaining the Grade One Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in April.

Noel Meade could run progressive Heron’s Flight and Orbit O’ Gold, a scorer in a Grade Two Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in February, who finished second on the Flat in the Irish Cesarewitch, while Tony Martin has entered the winner of the English equivalent, Leg Spinner.

The Spoonplayer has plenty of Cheltenham experience, having run in both the Coral Cup and the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle at The Festival in March, while trainer Henry de Bromhead could also run Sizing Europe, winner of a maiden hurdle at Newbury last season.

Adrian McGuinness’ talented hurdler Victram ran with great credit in both the Listed Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot and the Grade Two totesport Trophy at Newbury, while Charlie Swan has entered the unexposed Boulavogue and Cloone River. Recent Cheltenham winner Mill House Girl may also line up for trainer Shane Donohoe. Jessica Harrington could be represented this year by Albanov.

The home challenge is strong too. Champion trainer Paul Nicholls, who won the Greatwood Hurdle in 2003 with Rigmarole, has the well-regarded chaser Twist Magic, winner of the Grade One Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April, in the line-up. Twist Magic is prominent in the ante-post betting for the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at The Festival in March. The five-year-old last ran over hurdles in April, 2006.

Others entered from his Somerset yard are Poquelin, sixth in last season’s JCB Triumph Hurdle, and Ouninpohja, who finished second in the Grade Three Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle. Desert Quest went one better in the same race at The Festival 12 months earlier for the same connections, while recent French import Gwanako could also represent the Ditcheat-based handler.

The David Pipe-trained Gaspara will be near the top of the weights. The progressive four-year-old filly was last seen finishing second behind El Aile in the Grade One Aintree Hurdle on April 14.

Gaspara had previously rattled off four wins in quick succession, culminating in Listed victories in the Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle at Sandown on March 10, and the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices Handicap Hurdle at The Festival just three days later.

Behind Gaspara at The Festival in March, Altilhar could try and overturn a five-length defeat from that day, while, Zilcash and Pouvoir might also re-oppose Pipe’s star filly.

The Nicholshayne-based handler has also entered Fred Winter-third Laustra Bad and Osana, who finished second in the Grade Two Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April. The unexposed Nike Walker completes his four entries.

Besides Altilhar, Gary Moore could also run Heathcote, who beat a competitive field in the Grade Three totesport Trophy Hurdle at Newbury in February, including Nicky Henderson’s entries Tarlac and Caracciola.

Liberate finished second to Katchit in the Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle at The Festival on March 16, and the four-year-old is among six entries for Philip Hobbs, successful in this race in 2002 with Rooster Booster and last year with Detroit City.

Tritonix finished behind Katchit when third in the boylesports.com Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on December 9, while the Minehead-based handler has also entered French Saulaie, second in the Grade Three Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock in May.

Hobbs’ other contenders are Lead On, second behind Don’t Push It in the Listed Silver Trophy Handicap at Chepstow on October 27, Cheltenham novice hurdle scorer Chiaro, and Manhattan Boy, winner of a handicap hurdle at Newbury last season.

The Barbury Castle Estate again generously sponsors the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle which is named after the racehorse rehabilitation charity that is based on the outskirts of Marlborough, Wiltshire.

Nigel Bunter, owner of the Barbury Castle Estate, has his Trouble At Bay, trained by Alan King on the estate, entered in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.

The Greatwood Handicap Hurdle is race eight in the British Horseracing Authority’s Order of Merit Series.

THE GREATWOOD HANDICAP HURDLE

Class 1, Grade 3, £100,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.55pm, Cheltenham, Sunday, November 18, 2007. For 4yo+, two miles and a half furlongs. Penalties, after November 3, a winner of a Class 1 to 3 hurdle race 6lb; no penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed October 31; entries released November 1 (58 entries). Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including Tuesday, October 30, 2007. May not include some overseas form.

Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
31550-1 ALBANOV (IRE) 7 Ronnie Scott Four Syndicate Jessica Harrington IRE
161214- ALTILHAR (USA) 4 H Hunt Gary Moore
355110- AMOUR MULTIPLE (IRE) 8 S Young Sean Lycett
5/60-111 ATTICUS BOY (USA) 6 Iain Herity John Wade
10-22 BOULAVOGUE (IRE) 4 N O'Flaherty Charlie Swan IRE
141P0- BUSTER HYVONEN (IRE) 5 Simon Gibson James Fanshawe
0465-00 CARACCIOLA (GER) 10 Piers Pottinger Nicky Henderson
112U3F- CATCH ME (GER) 5 John O'Shea Edward O'Grady IRE
163151/- CHIARO (FR) 5 Andrew Cohen Philip Hobbs
4030//0-0 CHIVALRY 8 Paul Beck Venetia Williams
2/111/F/-5 CLOONE RIVER (IRE) 11 K Gillane Charlie Swan IRE
16/1121- CLOPF (IRE) 6 Bernard Anthony Heffernan Edward O'Grady IRE
11103-2 DEGAS ART (IRE) 4 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
U4U121- DEMPSEY (IRE) 9 Tracy Brown Carl Llewellyn
0/12030- DESERT QUEST (IRE) 7 Margaret Findlay Paul Nicholls
10/P/622- DIEGO CAO (IRE) 6 Vetlab Supplies Ltd Nick Gifford
0F3-111 FARMER BROWN (IRE) 6 Plantation Stud Pat Hughes IRE
2021-20 FRENCH SAULAIE (FR) 6 Mrs Roger Skan Philip Hobbs
3111-00 GABIER 4 B Siddle & B Haynes Gary Moore
211112- GASPARA (FR) 4 P McMahon David Pipe
11111-1 GWANAKO (FR) 4 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
00201-0 HEATHCOTE 5 B Siddle & B Haynes Gary Moore
4/21511- HERON'S FLIGHT (IRE) 5 All Four One Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
4512-12 INGRATITUDE (IRE) 4 Club ISM & JSC Sport Nicky Henderson
412P1-1 KANAD 5 P Warren Charlie Mann
30261-1 KINGS QUAY 5 Marie Taylor John Quinn
142131- LAUSTRA BAD (FR) 4 Sarah Ling David Pipe
F121-2 LEAD ON (IRE) 6 B Peppiatt Philip Hobbs
0/0P-110 LEG SPINNER (IRE) 6 W Moffett Tony Martin IRE
1225-02 LIBERATE 4 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
13003-0 LOUP DU SAUBOUAS (FR) 4 C Kearney Noel Meade IRE
1110- MANHATTAN BOY (GER) 5 Big Apples Philip Hobbs
31131//0- MEPHISTO (IRE) 8 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
5-22021 MILL HOUSE GIRL (IRE) 6 Charles Harte Shane Donohoe IRE
1P- MOUNTAIN (IRE) 4 Gay Smith Jonjo O'Neill
44F111- NIKE WALKER (FR) 4 Pipe Monkees David Pipe
311010- ORBIT O'GOLD (USA) 5 Mighty Macs Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
0B-3204 ORPEN WIDE (IRE) 5 Andy & Bev Wright Michael Chapman
124102- OSANA (FR) 5 Thomas Barr David Pipe
111236 OSPREY VIEW (IRE) 4 The Galloping Punters Nigel Twiston-Davies
132232- OUNINPOHJA (IRE) 6 Margaret Findlay Paul Nicholls
211F- PEVENSEY (IRE) 5 Dum Spiro Spero John Quinn
221113 PIGEON ISLAND 4 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
1352-11 PLATIN GROUNDS (GER) 5 D & S Goodman Nigel Twiston-Davies
31361- POQUELIN (FR) 4 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
22103-2 POUVOIR (FR) 4 Mr & Mrs R Scott Alan King
31232-3 ROYAL SHAKESPEARE (FR) 8 John Webb Steve Gollings
4432/12- RUSTARIX (FR) 6 Mrs Roger Skan Alan King
11351-F SIZING EUROPE (IRE) 5 Alan Potts Henry de Bromhead IRE
1601F-6 SPECIAL ENVOY (FR) 5 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Peter Bowen
50/1200- TARLAC (GER) 6 J P McManus Nicky Henderson
3000-21 THE SPOONPLAYER (IRE) 8 Band Syndicate Henry de Bromhead IRE
1131P- TRITONIX (IRE) 4 J P McManus Philip Hobbs
012430- TROUBLE AT BAY (IRE) 7 Nigel Bunter Alan King
3P/12F1- TWIST MAGIC (FR) 5 Barry Fulton Tony Hayward Michael Lynch Paul Nicholls
10/1306- VICTRAM (IRE) 7 Pinheads Pizza Syndicate Adrian McGuinness IRE
45131-0 WIZARD OF US 7 P Currey Michael Mullineaux
2F4-114 ZILCASH 4 David Bellamy & Stephen Williams Alan King

58 Entries
14 Irish-trained

PAST WINNERS - THE GREATWOOD HANDICAP HURDLE

Year Name Age/Wgt Trainer Jockey Owner Ran SP
2006 Detroit City 4-11-12b Philip Hobbs Richard Johnson Terry Warner 9 6/5F
2005 Lingo 6-10-06 Jonjo O’Neill Tony McCoy J P McManus 19 5/1
2004 Accordion Etoile 5-10-06 Paul Nolan IRE John Cullen Banjo Syndicate 9 10-3F
2003 Rigmarole 5-11-12 Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh Mark Woodhouse 10 33/1
2002 Rooster Booster 8-11-12 Philip Hobbs Seamus Durack Terry Warner 11 7/1
2001 Westender 5-10-13 Martin Pipe Tony McCoy Matt Archer & Jean Broadhurst 13 11/8F
2000 Hulysse Royal 5-10-00 Oliver Sherwood Jimmy McCarthy R Carvill 12 9/1
1999 Rodock 5-10-00 Martin Pipe Tony McCoy C, B & R Batterham II 13 11/4JF
1998 Grey Shot 6-11-05 Ian Balding Jamie Osborne Robert Hitchins 16 11/4F
1997 Mr Percy 9-10-09 Josh Gifford Philip Hide Felix Rosentiel’s Widow & Son 17 14/1
1996 Space Trucker 5-11-11 Jessica Harrington IRE Jamie Osborne Mrs E Queally 9 7/1
1995 Lonesome Train 6-9-09 Colin Weedon Barry Fenton Simon Gay 15 33/1
1994 Atours 6-11-05 David Elsworth Paul Holley Oh So Rosie Parnership 10 3/1F
1993 Leotard 6-12-00 Oliver Sherwood Jamie Osborne Christopher Heath 7 3/1
1992 Valfinet 5-10-09 Martin Pipe Peter Scudamore Frank Farrant 9 7/2F
1991 Shu Fly 7-11-01 Susan Oliver Steve Smith Eccles Severn First Partnership 12 10/1
1990 Liadett 5-11-10 Martin Pipe Mark Perrett Frank Farrant 8 9/2