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Wednesday’s racing round-up features a handful of big-race targets for potential Cheltenham Festival contenders in the coming weeks.
Last season's Gold Cup runner-up Gerri Colombe could be set for a trip across the Irish Sea, with Gordon Elliott eyeing up a tilt at the Fitzdares Fleur de Lys Chase at Windsor on January 19. A winner of the Betfair Bowl at Aintree last April, Gerri Colombe finished a well-beaten third behind Envoi Allen in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal on his reappearance in November.
The Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained Iroko looks likely to return to Cheltenham for the first time since finishing fifth in the Turners Novices' Chase at the Festival last March. A winner of the Martin Pipe over hurdles at Prestbury Park in 2023, JP McManus' gelding was narrowly denied in a graduation chase at Haydock on his return in November and suffered an unfortunate fall at the first when hampered early at Ascot before Christmas. The seven-year-old Cokoriko gelding will now step up in trip for a handicap on Cheltenham Trials Day before connections eye a tilt at the Randox Grand National at Aintree in April.
Olly Murphy has revealed Strong Leader will head to Cheltenham for a crack at the Cleeve Hurdle after his bitterly disappointing effort when sent off favourite for the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. Last year's Liverpool Hurdle winner was a warm order for the pre-Christmas feature, but he never looked like getting involved and ultimately finished a tailed-off last of ten behind two-time scorer Crambo. However, he has subsequently undergone a wind-op ahead of his return to Cheltenham where he will bid to go two places better than when third behind Grand National hero Noble Yeats and fan-favourite stayer Paisley Park twelve months ago.
The Alan King-trained Edwardstone looks likely to step back up in grade for a potential clash with Jonbon and Energumene in the BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 18th. Edwardstone has filled the runner-up spot behind Jonbon on multiple occasions in recent years and the pair look set to renew their rival once more, with Alan King's charge returning to Ascot on the back of a gallant second-place finish to Soul Icon, who received 20lb, in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas. Willie Mullins' two-time Champion Chase hero Energumene also looks set to make the journey after his successful reappearance in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork.
Trainers Philip Hobbs and Johnson White added to their excellent recent strike-rate by saddling a treble at Taunton on Wednesday. The cold weather continues to play havoc with National Hunt racing at present, but a midweek treble will certainly help lift the spirits of those connected to the Sandhill Racing-based stables. French Ship (4/11f) stayed on strongly to score by three and a half lengths in the opening novices' hurdle under Michael Nolan to kick off the treble before the well-backed The Hard Geezer (5/4f) got off the mark over hurdles at the third attempt for Sean Houlihan. The same colours were carried to victory later on the card when Tom Doniphon landed the Stables Business Park Handicap Hurdle, this time with Michael Nolan back in the saddle.
