Wonderwall to tune up for Cheltenham in Sidney Banks
Spencer six-year-old was a hit at Doncaster earlier this month.
Richard Spencer’s smart prospect Wonderwall will put his Cheltenham Festival aspirations on the line in the Ballymore Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon on February 10. Seventh in the Champion Bumper in March, he opened his account at the second time of asking over hurdles at Doncaster in fine style. Spencer had mooted the possibility of heading to Cheltenham on Trials Day with the six-year-old, but feels the timing of the Huntingdon race is more beneficial. “The Sidney Banks is where Wonderwall is going next. We will run him there and then, all being well, it will be on to the Ballymore,” said Spencer. “We had both the Sidney Banks and the Ballymore trial at Cheltenham on our mind after Doncaster. “We just felt it would probably be better for the horse to give him a couple more weeks and go for Huntingdon as it is then a nice time frame on to the Ballymore. It just spaces his races out a little bit better. “We want to try to give him as much chance to turn up at the Festival in top form instead of rushing him back quickly to run in the trial at Cheltenham. “Hopefully, he can take another step forward at Huntingdon and we can then bring him to Cheltenham in tip-top shape.”Follow us on Twitter racing365dotcom and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
Mystik Dan clings on for victory in Kentucky Derby thriller
Coolmore-owned Sierra Leone was just denied in second, with Forever Young third.
-
Jack Kennedy claims first Irish jockeys’ title
Landmark success for rider as Paul Townend fails to catch him on final day.
-
Minella Crooner hits winning note at Punchestown
25-1 shot edges out Better Times Ahead in thrilling finish.
-
O’Brien shocked by City Of Troy’s Guineas flop
‘Obviously it’s not his run and we’ll see what happened and why it happened’.
-
Kargese win ends Mullins’ Grade One campaign on a high
Trainer registers a 39th top-level success of the season at Punchestown.
-
Burke confident Fallen Angel will stay Guineas trip
Trainer insists: ‘The mile holds no qualms, she should improve for the mile.’
-
Lossiemouth strolls to another Grade One success
Easy victory completes another Cheltenham-Punchestown double for Mullins’ mare.
-
Seven Questions has all the answers in Palace House
Shock 33-1 win for George Scott’s charge in Group Three heat.
-
Sly hoping for Newmarket rain ahead of Beau bid
Dahlia Stakes contender would prefer cut in the ground for Group Two test.