Mark Howard has more dark horses to have on your watchlist as the Cheltenham Festival looms large.
It is eight years since a British-trained runner won the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. Flying Tiger, partnered by Richard Johnson, provided Nick Williams with his first Festival winner. Three years earlier, the Tim Easterby-trained Hawk High landed the event and it is not inconceivable another Easterby runner could make an impact in the 2025 renewal.
BUST A MOVE booked his ticket with a three lengths win at Newcastle towards the end of last month and doesn’t look overburdened off a rating of 123. Based at Sheriff Hutton under the tutelage of Mick and David Easterby, he reached a mark of 77 on the Flat winning a nine furlongs nursery on the Rowley Mile as a two year old.
Without a victory in four starts last year, the Ribchester gelding has made a smooth transition to jumping, scoring readily at Catterick on his hurdles bow a few days before Christmas. A running on third under his penalty at Wetherby over a month later, he qualified for the Festival when staying on strongly to defeat Big Boy Bobby on his handicap debut at Gosforth Park on Eider Chase day.
Taking charge on the run-in, Jack Tudor’s mount pulled away to win in convincing fashion off an opening mark of 116. Raised half a stone since, he will face some formidable rivals from Ireland but his connections feel there is plenty more to come over obstacles.
Set to carry 10st 9lb and currently number 24 on the list, the northern raider is virtually guaranteed his place in the line up and represents fair each-way value around 25/1.
