Wednesday 28 October 2009

Greatwood Hurdle Potential high-class field


CAPE TRIBULATION, fifth in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle last season at the Cheltenham Festival, could make his hurdling reappearance in the Grade 3 Greatwood Hurdle next month. The five year old Malcom Jefferson trained was among 56 entrants for the extended 2m race, won last season by Numide, and Jefferson could be doulby represented, with Issaquah also entered. Jefferson said: "Is being aimed Issaquah at the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle because two miles is her trip, she ran a wonder race around there in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at The Festival but did not get home (finished ninth), so I know she acts around there. "She's in good nick, so if everything went right and the ground was on the soft side, she would go there with a opportunity."I put Cape Tribulation in but he ran a bit of stinker on Saturday. We scoped him and he is on antibiotics but if it came up soft I wouldn't mind running him, as long as he is right. In a race like the Greatwood, I would not mind running them both because the prize money is so good and we are limited as to when we can run these horses."Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle runner up Celestial Halo, and Starluck, an impressive winner on his first start of the season at Cheltenham earlier in the month, are also entered, along with the highly rated Ashkazar and Blue Bajan from the Andrew Turnell stable. There is no shortage of potential Irish entrants, with Clopf, Donna's Palm, and Raise Your Heart, who scored on the Flat at Leopardstown earlier this week, among 16 possibles.