It has been a terrific start to the season for team from Thorndale Farm and trainer Kim Bailey sends a couple of interesting runners to Prestbury Park tomorrow.
Bailey was in good spirits as he said: “I’m very pleased with how the season has begun, I don’t really do Summer racing, so it’s nice to see the horses that we have for the Winter do what they’re doing.”
Making his seasonal debut, the talented Espoir De Romay will be lining up in a fiercely competitive handicap hurdle. Bailey acknowledges it will be tough to win but is hoping his horse will be in the frame.
“He had a very big back operation 18 months ago, and we decided to go over hurdles and he ran respectably at Exeter, then ran a blinder at Ascot when he finished second and equally well at Uttoxeter. It’s a mighty competitive race, and if he finishes in the first four, I’d be delighted.”
When thinking about this horse, it is hard to not to recall the Betway Chase where he seemingly had the race at his mercy before falling two out. Hopefully this horse can reignite his career this weekend.
The Grand National winning trainer also sends The Kemble Brewery in the National Hunt Flat Race and is optimistic about his chances after an impressive debut at Huntingdon.
“It’s hard to work out what bumper form is like, but we like him, very good pedigree, very good sire, he’s one of those horses who doesn’t do loads at home. I hope he’ll run very well; the Kemble Brewery is a pub in Cheltenham so we will have a good following!”
“Willie Mullins is bringing one across, and you think, hmm, he doesn’t bring one across for no reason. He wrote it up last week as the dark horse of the yard, so he’s probably quite useful!”
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