RACING:GRAND NATIONAL-winning jockey Robbie Power has yet to hit the Cheltenham bulls-eye but believes he will go to next week's festival with his best chance ever of changing that statistic.
Oscars Well is a prime Irish fancy in Wednesday’s Neptune Investment Novices’ Hurdle but Power has another dual-Grade One winner on his side too in the RSA hope Bostons Angel. Old MacDonald is another booked ride in Friday week’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle while other spares could yet become available for the in-form rider.
Power came agonisingly close to success at the festival last year when runner-up on Prince Erik in the Pertemps Final while the jockey was also runner-up in the past in the RSA on Horner Woods.
The Co Meath-based rider hit the headlines four years ago after guiding Silver Birch to a dramatic success in the Aintree Grand National but he is desperate to fill in that Cheltenham Festival blank.
“I don’t think anything will be as good as the National but I would love to have a Cheltenham winner on my CV. It is definitely the best collection of rides I’ve had going there so I’m hopeful,” Power said yesterday.
Oscars Well’s versatility means Power is relatively unconcerned about what the going will be at Prestbury Park.
“I’ve always thought he will be better on good, safe ground. . . But we won’t be using ground as an excuse either way at Cheltenham. He is definitely the best novice hurdler I’ve ridden,” he said.
Oscars Well tops the ante-post betting for the Neptune but Bostons Angel, winner of the Fort Leney Chase and the Dr PJ Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown, is among those hoping to upset hot RSA favourite Time For Rupert.
Power will be in action at Naas today where his two booked rides include Serein for Harrington in the second maiden hurdle.
One of Serein’s opponents will be King Of The Refs who is one of three rides for Ruby Walsh today as he continues his own build-up to Cheltenham. That one has been largely disappointing and Serein could be worth another chance after failing to justify favouritism on his last Naas visit when third to Johnny McGeeney.
The former Galway Plate winner Ballyholland lines up in the six-runner conditions hurdle where he and the others will have a big experience edge on Sweeney Tunes. Shane Donohoe praised the Michael O’Leary-owned horse after he won his first hurdle start at Navan when edging out the supposed hot-pot, Dantes King.
Sweeney Tunes looks a type to improve significantly and is worth checking out today. The ex-Marcus Tregonning-trained Priors Gold stepped up on previous form when runner-up at Navan last time and can score in the four-year-old maiden.
PROBLEMS with the racing surface at Wexford are continuing with the Turf Club yesterday cancelling the steeplechase races scheduled for the track on St Patrick’s Day. An inspection yesterday found that false patches of ground on the chase track in the vicinity of the home straight are unraceable and are not expected to improve. The remaining races on Thursday week will be divided to make a six-race card.
