Cheltenham Gold Cup champion Minella Endo faces a brand new problem within the Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Nation Handicap Chase when he returns to the place of his finest instances on Friday.
The ten-year-old has a superb report at Prestbury Park, having supplied coach Henry de Bromhead with a maiden blue rib win when he beat stablemate A Plus Tard in 2021.
He beforehand held Albert Bartlett in 2019 earlier than coming shut when crushed by the fast-finishing champion within the following season’s RSA.
Regardless of scoring twice since his hard-fought try within the Gold Cup, in addition to revamping the next 12 months, his general type has been hit or miss in the previous couple of seasons, and after lagging effectively behind Gerry Collomb at Down Royal lately, Etisalat determined to attempt to change the method.
He isn’t the primary high-end operator to throw his hat into the cross-country combine and there have been constructive experiences from his handler forward of this primary try concerning the twists and turns of the well-known Cheltenham circuit.
Jack Kennedy celebrates Minella Endo’s Cheltenham Gold Cup win
“He appears to be actually having fun with it and is getting a superb schooling, so we stated we’d let him take his probability,” De Bromhead stated.
“He appears to be in nice form and we’re proud of him. We wish to try the race and see, we expect he is having fun with it and we’ll see on Friday.”
Rider Rachel Blackmore advised Betfair: “That is clearly a brand new self-discipline for him, his first outing in cross nation, however he has accomplished numerous education in cross nation at dwelling, and he additionally favored a few of the hurdles at Cheltenham.
“In fact, you’ll be able to’t beat the racing expertise on this observe, however he confirmed us rather a lot with the cross-country elements he did.
“It is a handicap, so he has to offer weight to all his rivals, however he is a Gold Cup winner and retains numerous skill, and I hope he can run effectively.”
Few can match Gordon Elliott’s dominance at Cheltenham on this area, with the Cullentra Home coach having received the Cheltenham Pageant version of this competitors 5 instances previously seven years, in addition to being denied one other win by suspension.
Tiger Roll and Delta Work have change into Elliott cross-country legends of late, however each the latter and Galvin completed their cash after they appeared on the November meet.
Galvin is in “good situation,” based on Gordon Elliott
Galvin, the competition runner-up, was dropped as favourite on that event and given the chance to make amends as he works his approach by March and Fury Highway joins him within the line-up, whereas Elliott appears to be like for his first success in that regard. competitors since Bless The Wings received in 2017.
“Each horses are in good situation, and would most likely favor higher floor, however they’re in fine condition,” Elliott stated.
“Galvin will come to race there in November, however we’re simply getting back from Cheltenham in March.
“Fury’s route has been nice for us. It is his first run over fences, so a superb schooling shall be good for him.”
It was Mouse Morris’s Cunning Jacks who benefited from a uncommon day without work for Elliott’s runners final month, however coming down bravely on his defend in second place was Latenightpass and his ordinary jockey Jenna Andrews.
The ten-year-old, who received the Aintree Foxhunters title in 2022, is 3lbs heavier this time however nonetheless receives greater than a stone in weight from a few of his larger calibre rivals, with coach Dan Skelton anticipating one other daring show.
Jenna Andrews roars as Latenightpass wins the Foxhunters race at Aintree
“He ran superbly final time and I used to be very proud of what I noticed,” Skelton stated.
“He is down weight once more this time and he is bought to be aggressive once more. He is bought to be within the combine.”
Giskell has loved a novel leaping check since becoming a member of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerrero and the Grand Sefton champion arrives searching for a hat-trick, having claimed one other win at Auteuil on his penultimate begin.
His coaching group see this as the right place to maintain the seven-year-old motivated as they contemplate heading to the Grand Nationwide within the new 12 months, whereas Didero Valles completed third right here final month and represents the flying Venice Williams secure.
Irish striker Ciaran Murphy’s Take pleasure in D’allen will put on the inexperienced and gold hoops of JP McManus, with Richard Bandey’s Diesel D’Allier 3lbs lighter than when he succeeded two years in the past and was trialled in a mix of tongue tie and cheek lower for the primary time.
