THE Declan Landy-owned Captain Guinness goes to Cheltenham with a real chance of providing his owner with a first Cheltenham Festival success in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The culmination of months of hard work and hope will be put to the test in the very first race, and connections are hopeful of a bold showing from the five-year-old son of Arakan, out of the unraced mare Presenting D’Azy.

Despite having not run since finishing second to the highly regarded Andy Dufresne in the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Navan on just his second start, connections are not concerned about the lack of recent run.

Landy tells The Irish Field: “We decided not to run him after Navan and he’ll be a fresh horse at Cheltenham. You can never go to the Festival full of confidence because you’re taking on the best of the best but we’re very hopeful that he has a big each-way chance. He put in a big performance that day and we’re still in the early stages of his career. He was very impressive on his first start too and we think he’s a very good horse.”

Well-named

Captain Guinness could prove a very aptly named winner as punters pack themselves into the Guinness Village on-track to watch the action. “We bought him out of Desmond Guinness’ Leixlip Castle, after a friend of mine, Ollie Harrington, recommended him to me.

“He was bred by Des’ friend, Arthur Fennelly, who was the farm manager at the castle and has two thoroughbred mares. I wanted to call the horse Arthur Guinness as a result but it was already taken. There’s a famous hill in Leixlip called Captain’s Hill and that’s how the name Captain Guinness came together.”

Declan is well-known in the industry as a supplier of fencing and has been a regular attendee of the November meeting at Cheltenham and Aintree’s Grand National meeting. He’s very much looking forward to being back amongst the hustle and bustle of the Cheltenham Festival this year:

“We’re delighted to be going there with a live chance of a winner. There’s a good few of the lads going as well as the family so it’s going to be an exciting day.”

With Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead teaming up for two victories at last year’s Festival and plenty of Grade 1 successes this season, there is every right to be bullish of being involved at the business end of the race.

“Henry and Rachael are a fantastic team,” he says. “They’re very happy with how the horse is doing and everything seems to be going according to plan.”