Nicky Richards could be doubly represented as Cheltenham's new season gets underway on Friday, October 27, with The Showcase.
Guitar Pete gained a pair of G1 victories over hurdles as a juvenile in 2014, as well as finishing third in the G1 JCB Triumph Hurdle at The Festival in the same year. The seven-year-old is one of 45 entries for the two-mile, five-furlong £12,000 Brandon Hill Handicap Hurdle.
Since moving to the Cumbrian yard of Nicky Richards earlier this year, Guitar Pete has finished second five times on the Flat, over hurdles and fences. On his latest appearance, the son of Dark Angel went down by four lengths to Ballybolley in the Listed Prelude Handicap Chase at Market Rasen on September 30.
Richards could also be represented in the Brandon Hill Handicap Hurdle by six-year-old Caius Marcius, a four-time hurdle winner over two miles, who also lined up at Market Rasen on September 30, finishing eighth in the Listed Prelude Handicap Hurdle.
The trainer commented: "We will have a look at the Brandon Hill Handicap Hurdle for both Guitar Pete and Caius Marcius.
"There is a two and a half-mile handicap hurdle at Aintree on Sunday which we were considering for Caius Marcius but, if we keep getting a lot of rain in the North West, then we might consider sending him down to Cheltenham instead.
"Caius Marcius is a grand, consistent little horse and wants decent ground. He made a mistake early on at Market Rasen and two miles around there was a little bit sharp for him. He still ran well - he wasn't beaten that far - and we want to try him over a bit further.
"We think that Guitar Pete might be better handicapped over fences, so we might stick to going chasing for the time being. Mr Sloan [owner] sent him to me just to see if we could rejuvenate him and get him running a bit better. I suppose we have achieved that without winning a race.
"He will keep giving us a bit of fun and might just land a decent race at some stage, whether it's over fences, hurdles or even on the Flat."
