Harvey heads for Towton

PA Sport Reporters
February 1, 2021 3:19 pm

O’Brien novice one of 14 in reckoning for Wetherby Grade Two.

Hurricane Harvey features among 14 possibles for the William Hill Towton Novices’ Chase at Wetherby.

The Fergal O’Brien-trained seven-year-old has won two of his three chasing starts to date, kicking off with victory over the well-regarded Emitom at Uttoxeter back in October.

He then found Ga Law too good in the “Rising Stars” Novices’ Chase at Wincanton, beaten 22 lengths when conceding 8lb, but bounced back to victorious form when lifting the Grade December Novices’ Chase at Doncaster before Christmas.

O’Brien has entered Hurricane Harvey for the Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle at Sandown as well, also on Saturday, but Wetherby remains the aim.

He said: “Wetherby is definitely his first preference. We’ve entered him in the hurdle at Sandown, just in case – but that might not be going ahead, it seems, and Wetherby would be the preferred option.

“We were delighted with him last time and we have been delighted with him all year, from his first win at Uttoxeter.

“It was good to get a nice win on the board with him the last day, and he’s a great horse for his owners.”

While Hurricane Harvey holds an entry for the National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase at next month’s Cheltenham Festival, his trainer is far from certain he will line up there.

O’Brien added: “He’s in the old four-miler at Cheltenham because, when the entries were made, it wasn’t clear if the Irish horses would be coming across or what the situation is going to be with amateur riders. It was more a precautionary entry really.

“We’ll discuss it all after Wetherby hopefully, but we may just look to Aintree or Punchestown with him – those flatter tracks might just suit him a bit better.”

O’Brien also has Good And Hardy entered in Wetherby’s Grade Two feature.

Nick Mitchell’s Milanford finished a length and a quarter behind Hurricane Harvey at Doncaster, and he is another in the mix – along with the Nicky Henderson-trained Dame De Compagnie, who hacked up on her chasing bow at Ayr last month.

Colin Tizzard has entered his Kauto Star Novices’ Chase runner-up The Big Breakaway – with others of note including Sevarano, Full Back, Kiltealy Briggs and Port Of Mars.