Lavelle targets Kim Muir with Qianshan Leader

QIANSHAN LEADER, fifth in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster on his last start, has been given the Kim Muir Challenge Cup as his Cheltenham Festival target by trainer Emma Lavelle.

Prior to his run behind Calgary Bay on January 28, Qianshan Leader looked progressive in back-to-back wins over fences, including a neck verdict over Benny Be Good in December.

 

Lavelle thinks the ground may have been against the Pick 'N' Mix partnership's eight-year-old on his latest start and is keen to target the festival contest.

"Qianshan Leader found the ground a little bit softer than ideal. Even saying that he ran a super race to finish fifth and I have no doubt back on better ground he will be competitive off his mark [134]," said the trainer.

She added: "My plan is to run him in the Kim Muir where I think he will give an amateur a great chance."

Qianshan Leader is as short as 12-1 for the Kim Muir, although William Hill are a best-priced 20-1.

Lavelle also had news on another one of her hopes for Cheltenham who ran at Doncaster last month. Quoted on her website, Lavelle said: "Gullinbursti finished second in the River Don Hurdle. He had missed a week's work when pulling off a shoe and stepping on it.

"He took a blow between the third-last and second-last and I have no doubt he will improve considerably for this run.

"This is a very smart horse who has a big future, especially when jumping fences.  He's very versatile regarding ground and will now head to Cheltenham for the Albert Bartlett."

Nick Mustoe's six-year-old can be backed at 33-1 with BetVictor Stan James and Coral for the Albert Bartlett.