ROYAL ROSA READY FOR BYRNE BROS CLEEVE HURDLE RETURN
Royal Rosa is on course to make his eagerly anticipated reappearance in the £60,000 Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle, run at Cheltenham's Festival Trials Day on Saturday, January 28, with his trainer tipping him to fill the void created by his side-lined stablemate Inglis Drever.
One of the leading lights of Howard Johnson's yard, the high-class stayer could take in the Grade Two prize ahead of a possible tilt at the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at The Festival, won last year by Inglis Drever.
Johnson confirmed: "One of mine will run in the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle, and if I can get a racecourse gallop into Royal Rosa, then he'll run - ground permitting. He wants it a bit on the soft side. He's fine and he's not far away."
Last year marked the first running of the prestigious Grade Two race as a three-mile contest, having previously been run over two and a half miles when it was won by star hurdlers such as Large Action, Lady Rebecca and Champion Hurdler victor Flakey Dove.
Royal Rosa will be making his seasonal debut in the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle for the second successive season. The seven-year-old came home seventh behind the Sue Smith-trained Patriarch Express in a typically thrilling renewal last term.
The Graham Wylie-owned gelding subsequently ran third behind Crystal D'Ainay at Kempton Park in February before his campaign was curtailed.
Johnson commented: "He was third in the Rendlesham at Kempton where he got a bit of a leg. The track was too sharp for him there. He had a hole in his tendon but he's had stem cell treatment and he's good now."
Royal Rosa proved himself a top novice in 2004 with a defeat of subsequent Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle winner Fundamentalist at Haydock and a second to Ladbrokes World Hurdle victor Iris's Gift at Aintree.
Johnson revealed: "He's hopefully my fill-in with Inglis Drever being off but it all depends on the ground for Royal Rosa. He doesn't want quick ground."
Despite the absence of Inglis Drever through injury, the County Durham handler has a strong team for the staying division, with last season's Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle hero No Refuge and JCB Triumph Hurdle third Akilak also potential contenders for the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle.
"Akilak could go for the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle but he runs in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Carlisle tomorrow and it depends on how he runs as to whether he goes. It may come too quick for him.
"No Refuge is well and, if Royal Rosa runs, then he'll probably go to Lingfield next weekend instead."
This year's Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle marks the sixth year that Byrne Bros, a leading concrete frame contractor, has sponsored the prestigious contest.
The Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle is one of the highlights of the Festival Trials Day staged on Saturday, January 28, which features the £80,000 Letheby & Christopher Chase and the £110,000 Victor Chandler Chase which is on loan from Ascot.
The high-class seven-race card carries total prize money of £386,000 - a record for the day.
Admission prices for the meeting are Club/Tattersalls: £20 (£18 in advance); online at www.cheltenham.co.uk & Group Rate (15 or more): £16; 16-24s: £12; Best Mate Enclosure: £8.
Rooster Booster Raceday Package: £46 and Best Mate Raceday Package: £25. These must be booked in advance.
TOTESPORT CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP DAY SELLS OUT
totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup Day, Friday, March 17, 2006 is now completely sold out in all three enclosures.
Tickets priced at £65, £35 and £20 are available for the first three days of The Festival by ringing 01242 226 226 or online at www.cheltenham.co.uk
Last year, the first time The Festival was extended to four days, totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup day sold out a week later.
INTERCASINO NATIONAL HUNT DAY AT LINGFIELD PARK - Racing Demon could be star attraction
On Saturday, January 21, Lingfield Park is proud to stage yet another fixture transferred from Ascot.
The meeting, known as Ascot Chase Day at its usual venue, features the Grade Two intercasino.co.uk Novices' Steeplechase, registered as the Lightening Novices' Chase, with prize money of £35,000. Also featuring on the card is the Grade Two intercasino.co.uk Handicap Hurdle, registered as the Churchill Road Hurdle, worth £40,0000 and the intercasino.co.uk Handicap Chase with a prize fund of £25,000.
Intercasino has generously sponsored the entire day, with a total prize fund of just under £140,000 with three races scheduled to be shown on Channel 4.
Racing Demon is a possible contender at the Surrey track according to his trainer Henrietta Knight, who withdrew the gelding from his intended race at Ludlow after concerns about the ground on Thursday, January 12.
Kate Hills, Head of Public Relations for Lingfield course owners Arena Leisure, said: "Obviously, we would be delighted to have Racing Demon compete at Lingfield.
"I have spoken to Clerk of the Course Neil Mackenzie Ross and he has reported that the ground, although soft, is fairly consistent. There isn't really much rain forecast so we are hopeful we will attract some really nice horses."
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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