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Former Champion Hurdle contender Yanworth will get his first taste of Cheltenham’s cross country course on Friday.
Trained by Alan King in his younger days, he is now with Enda Bolger and got back to winning ways in the Risk Of Thunder Chase at Punchestown last month.
That was his first success since winning the Dipper Novices’ Chase on New Years’ Day 2018, and Bolger hopes to see him take to the fences with March in mind.
Yanworth will be joined by Josies Orders and relative youngster Blue Templar in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase.
“We run all three – Yanworth, Josies Orders and Blue Templar,” said Bolger.
“It was nice to see Yanworth win last time. He was dropping back a good bit in class compared to what he was used to, so it looked an ideal race for him.
“I’m looking forward to Friday to see how he’ll handle the Cheltenham course. Obviously he has a fair task on his hands giving away all the weight, but the main task is getting him round safe and sound.
“It’s been a bit of a rush with Josies as he had a touch of colic in September which meant we were held up, but he’d have been disappointed to have been left at home.
“Blue Templar has a nice weight, but he’s a pretty average horse compared to the other two. He’s got good cross-country form, but he wouldn’t be of the class of the other two.”
Bolger added: “I’m looking forward to a good run from Yanworth, hopefully he takes to the track. I think Josies will need the race and maybe Blue Templar is good enough to run into a place.”
Chic Name was third over the course and distance last month and his trainer Richard Hobson expects the seven-year-old to be in the shake-up again, as he looks to expose any chinks in Yanworth’s stamina.
“Yanworth has to prove he stays every bit of that trip, though I assume they think he will, but he has to give heaps of weight away to our chap, who is pretty smart round there,” said Hobson.
“We quietly think he’ll be in the shake-up and do us proud again.”
FOR PREVIEWS OF THIS WEEKEND'S ACTION AT CHELTENHAM AND IN IRELAND, SEE THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD
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