Finale next for Triumph hope Countrywide Flame

COUNTRYWIDE FLAME, a stand out 40-1 with Stan James for the JCB Triumph Hurdle in March, will make his next start in the Grade 1 Coral Future Champions Finale Hurdle at Chepstow on December 27.

Trained by John Quinn, Countrywide Flame haswon three out of four starts over hurdles to date, suffering his only defeat when runner-up in a Listed event at Wetherby in October.

 

Also a winner on the Flat, the Estio Pinnacle Racing-owned three-year-old was an easy winner at Sedgefield last month and connections think he's right up there with the best of this season's juvenile hurdlers.

"Countrywide Flame may have slipped under the radar as regards to the Triumph Hurdle in March," Quinn told his website.

He added: "His collateral form is very good and there isn't a juvenile I would be afraid to take on with him, albeit Tom George's Baby Mix looked very good at Cheltenham last weekend. His next stop will be the Grade 1 Finale at Chepstow after Christmas."

Quinn also had news of Royal Bonsai, winner of a Grade 2 hurdle at Doncaster earlier this month and also available at 40-1 for the Triumph.

The trainer said: "It was a pretty smart performance at Doncaster and given that he has already won a Grade 2 we will have to think about having a crack at a Grade 1 with him. The Triumph Hurdle in March is likely to be his main target."