Friday, November 28, 2008
SERABAD PRIMED FOR GRADE TWO RELKEEL HURDLE AT CHELTENHAM
BOYLESPORTS.COM GOLD CUP-BOUND YES SIR “BACK TO HIS BEST”
Meeting - Boylesports International, Cheltenham Racecourse
Dates - Friday, December 12 & Saturday, December 13
First race - 12.10pm Friday & 12.15pm Saturday
Tickets available from www.cheltenham.co.uk or by calling 08445 793 003.
ISDN facilities are available for radio interviews if required
Peter Bowen has his string firing on all cylinders at present and the Pembrokeshire trainer is aiming to continue his excellent recent form at the Boylesports International when Serabad will bid to step up on his recent impressive handicap success and clinch a Grade Two triumph in the £40,000 Relkeel Hurdle (1.20pm).
The extended two and a half-mile race is limited to novice and second season hurdlers and takes place at Cheltenham on Saturday, December 13, the second day of the prestigious two-day Boylesports International.
The Relkeel Hurdle honours the popular gelding who was trained by David Nicholson and Alan King to win five races at Cheltenham. Three of Relkeel’s famous triumphs came in the Grade Two Boylesports.com International (1997, 1998 and 1999), the premier stepping-stone to the Grade One Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle. The Boylesports.com International, due off on Saturday, December 13 at 3.05pm, is worth £200,000.
Successful twice as a novice last season, Serabad chased home Franchoek in the Grade Two Wragge & Co Finesse Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham in January before returning to the course at The Festival in March when he finished a creditable sixth to Celestial Halo in the Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle.
Having exhibited smart form at around two miles, Serabad stepped up to two and a half miles for his return to action in the Toteswinger Handicap Hurdle at Aintree on November 23. Bowen’s charge proved his stamina and class in the soft ground with a four-length victory over Nevertika, to whom he was conceding 12lb.
The trainer revealed this today: “Serabad will probably go for the Relkeel Hurdle. I was over the moon with his win last time because I thought he’d just need that, so there should be more to come from him.
“He has run a couple of nice races round Cheltenham so the course won’t be a problem and hopefully we will have soft ground.”
Bowen landed the biggest success of his career when Snoopy Loopy won the Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 22 and will look to Yes Sir to scoop another major prize for the Welsh yard at Cheltenham in December.
The nine-year-old gelding was travelling sweetly in second place when taking a tumble four fences from home in the Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup at The Open on November 15, and will seek redress in the two mile, five furlong £150,000 Grade Three Boylesports.com Gold Cup on December 13.
Bowen has rekindled Yes Sir’s sparkle this autumn, the gelding having taken second-place in the Dick Francis “Silks” Handicap Chase at The Showcase on October 18, prior to scoring easily in a Listed chase over an extended two and a half miles at Wetherby 13 days later.
Bowen commented: “Yes Sir will go to Cheltenham for the Boylesports.com Gold Cup. He runs at Newbury tomorrow (Saturday) and he seems in good form. He’s definitely back to his best.
“He was a bit unlucky in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, he lost his footing rather than made an error. Seamus (Durack) said he hadn’t moved and the horse was going as well as you’d expect him to with four to jump. The ground was soft enough last time and he handled that well.”
The Boylesports.com Gold Cup has attracted 47 entries including Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies. Weights for the contest will be revealed next Wednesday, December 3.
Saturday’s racing also features the £30,000 Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (3.35pm) over three miles. Last year’s renewal was won by the Alan King-trained Nenuphar Collonges, who went on to win the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival in March.
Friday’s highlight is the £100,000 Listed Boylesports.com Cashback Chase (1.55pm) over an extended three miles, one furlong. The competitive seven-race card also includes the Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeplechase (1.20pm) and the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (12.45pm) over three miles, a qualifier for the Pertemps Hurdle Final at The Festival in March.
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