Black Hercules half-brother to be unleashed at Wincanton

Dusky Hercules, a half-brother to the 2016 JLT Novices' Chase scorer Black Hercules, is to make his debut in the same colours as two other Cheltenham heroes - Dell' Arca and Un Temps Pour Tout - in the bumper at Wincanton on Monday (5.25).

The four-year-old Shantou gelding, who is owned by Caroline Tisdall, was purchased from breeder Spencer Hawkins for €28,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland November Foal Sale, and is out of Bob's Return mare Annalecky, an unraced half-sister to the classy hurdler Indian Scout.

Watch replay of Black Hercules's three-length JLT triumph

Trained by David Pipe and to be ridden by Tom Scudamore, Dusky Hercules will line up against five other newcomers in the 11-runner field, including Lamanver Pippin, an Apple Tree half-brother to Listed-placed hurdler Lady Of Lamanver.

Runners bred on the similar Shantou-Bob Back cross include Briar Hill, Shantou Bob, Shantou Flyer and The Storyteller, who gave Davy Russell his fourth winner at this year's festival in the Grade 3 Brown Advisory and Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase.

Tisdall also owns the Greatwood Hurdle winner Dell' Arca outright and the dual Ultima Handicap Chase scorer Un Temps Pour Tout in partnership with Bryan Drew.