3 minute read
Grace One winner Adrien Du Pont tops seven entries, revealed today, for the £35,000 Masterson Holdings Hurdle (3pm) at Cheltenham on day two of The Showcase on Saturday.
The two-mile conditions hurdle provides four-year-olds with an opportunity to compete against their own age group before moving into all-age races later in the season.
Adrien Du Pont, one of two entries for champion Jump trainer Paul Nicholls, captured the G1 Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow in January and ended the campaign with a six-length victory in a valuable juvenile handicap hurdle at Ascot in April.
Somerset-based Nicholls has also entered recent Chepstow scorer Diego Du Charmil who led home a one-two for the stable in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at The Festival in March.
Wolf Of Windlesham (Stuart Edmunds) won three of his four starts over hurdles last season, including a G2 success at Cheltenham in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at The Open in November.
He disappointed on heavy ground back at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day but signed off with a narrow victory over Voix Du Reve in a valuable juvenile handicap hurdle at Sandown Park on the final day of the 2015/2016 Jump season, April 23.
Edmunds, who trains in Buckinghamshire, said today: "Wolf Of Windlesham seems in very good form and the plan is to run on Saturday.
"I would say he is pretty straight for his first run back. We were looking at having a prep on the Flat but couldn't fit it in.
"He definitely exceeded expectations last season. He was only rated 60 on the Flat going into it but the switch to hurdles has obviously brought out the best in him.
"To be honest, I think this year could be quite difficult. Is he going to be lumping big weights in handicaps or can he step up a few grades; I don't know?
"Saturday will tell us more as he has to carry an 8lb penalty for his win at Cheltenham in November. I just hope the rain stays away because needs nice ground."
Wiltshire-based handler Alan King is doubly represented by course winner Sceau Royal and Gibralfaro who was third behind Diego Du Charmil at Chepstow on his reappearance. The entries are completed by Leoncavallo (Ben Pauling), fifth in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, and Fakenham victor Ceporine (Richard Hobson).
The seven-race card on day two of The Showcase is headlined by two £50,000 handicap chases sponsored for the first time by Randox Health.
Holywell (Jonjo O'Neill) and bet365 Gold Cup winner The Young Master (Neil Mulholland) star are among 28 entries for the opening Randox Handicap Chase (1.50pm) over three miles and a furlong. Cause Of Causes (Gordon Elliott IRE), an impressive winner of Kim Muir Handicap Chase at The Festival, and unexposed chaser Vivaldi Collonges (Paul Nicholls) are also engaged.
Irish raider Devils Bride (Henry de Bromhead IRE) heads 23 entries for the £50,000 Randox Health Handicap Chase (3.30pm) over two miles. Other possible runners include last year's winner Boondooma (Dr Richard Newland), Savello (Dan Skelton) and course scorer Fox Norton (Neil Mulholland)
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