Cheltenham Festival news: Yanworth to run in Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle


Connections have confirmed Yanworth will run in the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

The Alan King-trained eight-year-old has won two of his four races over fences this season, most recently scoring at Grade Two level in the Dipper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham.

He holds entries in the JLT Novices' Chase and the RSA Insurance Novices' Chase at the Festival, while King also mooted he might be given an entry in the Ultima Handicap Chase, too.

However, the decision has been made to revert to hurdles, partly as the current favourite, Supasundae, finished behind Yanworth in the Liverpool Hurdle last April.

Owner JP McManus' racing manager Frank Berry said: "We just thought his jumping hadn't been the slickest but we're not saying he won't go back over fences, maybe even later this spring, we'll just see how he gets on here first. He'll be taken out of the novice chases (at Cheltenham), though, and will definitely run in the Stayers'. He was in the Stayers' and we just thought it was an opportunity to go down that road. Later in the season he'll have all the options."

He is 5/1 (non-runner/no bet and Best Odds Guaranteed) with Sky Bet for his Festival target.

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