Gumball wins at Ascot under Ben Jones
Gumball wins at Ascot under Ben Jones

Gumball could head to Unibet Greatwood Hurdle


Minehead trainer Philip Hobbs is considering a tilt at the £100,000 Unibet Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday week with recent Ascot winner Gumball.

The handler landed the valuable pot with subsequent Champion Hurdle hero Rooster Booster in 2002 and went on to enjoy further victories with Detroit City (2006), Menorah (2010) and Garde La Victoire (2014).

Rooster Booster and Detroit City both carried the famous colours of owner Terry Warner, who also owns Gumball.

The five-year-old was all-the-way winner of the Listed Sodexo Handicap Hurdle under Ben Jones at the Berkshire track on Saturday.

Hobbs said: "Gumball is a possible runner in the Greatwood. The race is under consideration if ground conditions suit. I was delighted with his performance at Ascot last weekend and hopefully there is more to come now off his current handicap mark (147)."

Benny's Bridge will bid to give Fergal O'Brien a first victory in the same race at Cheltenham later this month.

The trainer is in red-hot form at present and Benny's Bridge already has a course-and-distance win to his name this season.

"Benny's Bridge is in good form and the Greatwood is the target," said O'Brien.

"He did it very nicely at Cheltenham last time and we were delighted with the manner of his victory.

"He has gone up 10lb for winning that event and hopefully he can run a big race in the Greatwood.

"He likes Cheltenham and we are looking forward to it."


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