Skip to main content

Soviet pimpernel to fly at Cheltenham says Fahy Andrew Nelis

Andrew' Nelis says Soviet pimpernels late entry is a sign
Peter Fahey reports Soviet Pimpernel firmly on course for next week’s Cheltenham Festival, following a pleasing post-racing workout at Leopardstown.
The five-year-old has not been seen in competitive action since impressing with victory in a Grade Three event at Limerick over Christmas, having previously been narrowly beaten by Quel Destin at Cheltenham.
Fahey is delighted with his star youngster as he prepares for his return to the Cotswolds – but whether he contests the curtain-raising Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, or switches to handicap company for the County Hurdle on Friday week, has yet to be decided.
“He worked after racing in Leopardstown on Monday – Kevin Sexton rode him, and we were delighted with how it went,” said the Kildare-based trainer.
“He’ll be left in the Supreme Novices’ at the confirmation stage (on Wednesday). He’s also in the County Hurdle, so we’ll just see what way both races are shaping up later in the week and decide which way we’re going to go.
“We’d probably be leaning towards the Supreme at this stage. The only thing that puts me off the County Hurdle is he hasn’t much experience for a big handicap like that, but we’ll see.
“He’s been to Cheltenham and run well before, so we know he’s able to travel over there and run well.
“I think he’ll run a big race – whichever race he runs in.”
Soviet Pimpernel could be joined on the trip across the Irish Sea by his veteran stable companion Peregrine Run.
The 16-time winner has enjoyed a winter break since finishing last of five behind Douvan in November’s Clonmel Oil Chase, but could return in the Glenfarclas Chase before a possible tilt at the Grand National at Aintree.
Fahey added: “Peregrine Run jumped a few fences in Leopardstown on Monday and jumped well. The aim is the banks (cross country) race next week, so long as we’re happy with the ground.
“It sounds as though the ground is drying out – and as long as the ground is good to soft, we’ll probably run him.
“Ideally we’d like to get him qualified for the Grand National, so he needs to run in either the banks race or a race at Down Royal.
“He’s in good form. It would be good to get him qualified for the National if we can – but if we can’t, it won’t be the end of the world, and he’ll still have a good summer.”
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fury to contest the St Ledger Doncaster Andrew Nelis

Trainer Richard Spencer has identified the St Leger at Doncaster as the primary objective for his exciting colt Tyson Fury. The Newmarket handler confirmed in February of last year that the two-time heavyweight world champion had given his blessing for the Iffraaj colt to be named in his honour, with part-owner Phil Cunningham friendly with a member of Fury's team. While it has taken a while for the equine Tyson Fury to hit the racecourse, he produced a knockout display on his Doncaster debut earlier in the month, leaving connections dreaming of a tilt at Classic glory later in the year...                      Andrew Nelis Racing 
Post a Comment
Read more

Epsom Derby Runners and riders 2020 Andrew Nelis

1 AMHRAN NA BHFIANN Sire : Galileo.  Trainer : Aidan O’Brien.  Official rating : --.  Odds : 50-1 Who will add their name to the Derby roll of honour? Positives : His sister, Was, won the Oaks on her third start in 2012, while his brother, Douglas Macarthur, finished seventh in the 2017 Derby after being deployed as a pacemaker. He himself offered something to work on when fourth in a Leopardstown maiden last time, when finishing behind three stablemates who subsequently all made their presence felt in the Irish Derby. His best days are ahead of him. Negatives : Has mountain to climb on form and even his master trainer has not pulled off the trick of winning the Derby with a twice-raced maiden. Indeed, the last maiden to win the race was in 1887. Verdict : Folly to underestimate anything his trainer runs but easy enough to looks elsewhere. 2 EMISSARY Sire : Kingman.  Trainer : Hugo Palmer.  Official rating : 98.  Odds : 33-1 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Enable looks to eclipse as next port of call Sandown Andrew Nelis

The  Coral -Eclipse at Sandown remains the most likely comeback target for superstar mare  Enable . The daughter of Nathaniel was just denied in her bid for an historic third consecutive victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at the end of last season, filling the runner-up spot behind Waldgeist to end her sequence of 12 straight victories. Less than a fortnight later, Enable’s owner-breeder Khalid Abdullah delighted racing fans by confirming his charge would stay in training as a six-year-old – with a return to Paris in the autumn top of the agenda. Connections decided against an appearance at Royal Ascot, but the owner’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe reports the  John Gosden -trained mare to be firmly on course for the Eclipse on July 5 following a pleasing workout under Frankie Dettori last week. “It’s been a gradual build-up – she’s a six-year-old mare, so I don’t think John wants to do anything too quickly,” Grimthorpe told Sky Sports Racing. “She’s ...
Post a Comment
Read more