'Archie amazes me' - is Hollie Doyle's Qatar winner a pointer for Cheltenham?

Archie Watson's gift for placing horses could make smart Flat stayer Stag Horn a player at the Cheltenham Festival according to the five-year-old's former jockey Hollie Doyle, who is fresh from riding the trainer's Outbox to victory in a $1 million race in Qatar on Saturday.

The 1m4f HH The Amir Trophy carried a first prize of £422,222, an amount that dwarfs the purses for Doyle's biggest British successes and is only surpassed by the £437,956 True Self pocketed under the jockey in Saudi Arabia 12 months ago.

"I'm always fairly optimistic and confident when I ride for Archie because I know we wouldn't be going somewhere for no reason, especially halfway round the world," she said.

Archie Watson: won big prize in Qatar and is now eyeing a Cheltenham Festival victoryCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"I know Outbox had thrown in some bad runs, but on his best form he'd be competitive and he'd had a bit of a break, so went there in top form.

"We were pleasantly surprised, but he was entitled to go close on ratings."

Outbox runs in the familiar silks of Hambleton Racing Ltd, whose Maystar was a winner for Doyle and Watson in Qatar three years ago.

"It's a lucky place for us," she added. "We get a great welcome and are so well looked after."

Lambourn-based Watson is gearing up for another big date as Stag Horn, who won four staying races on the Flat with Doyle at the controls, is emerging as a dark horse for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.

Albert Bartlett entries and betting

The winner of Warwick's Grade 2 Leamington Novices' Hurdle last time, Stag Horn can be backed at 16-1 with Betfair and Paddy Power for the Albert Bartlett, but is as short as 10-1 elsewhere.

Doyle added: "We were struggling with options for him as he needs a trip, so Archie thought about hurdling for the winter as there was so little on the Flat for him. Jumping made sense as he's such a versatile horse.

"I'm not surprised he's won over jumps, although if you'd have said a year ago he'd be fancied for Cheltenham I would have been surprised.

"That said, Archie's horses never fail to amaze me. It would be some achievement if he won. Maybe Archie's achievements do go under the radar a little bit, especially in what he's done in such a short space of time. I know he's my boss, but he does place horses exceptionally well – he knows what he's got and what he wants to do with them."

Stag Horn (right) on his way to victory in the Leamington Novices' Hurdle at Warwick last monthCredit: Edward Whitaker

Doyle, 25, is keen to kick on once more after riding 172 British winners last year, outstripping the 151 she enjoyed in 2020.

"It's an exciting time of year and I'm really looking forward to the core season," said Doyle, who has a retainer with prominent owner-breeder Imad Al Sagar.

"I had that winner in Saudi last year, but I'm not going this year, so it was nice to have Outbox and hopefully it can be a springboard into the turf campaign.

"I'm just training hard in the gym at the moment and preparing myself to be the best I can.

"My aims would be to ride some good horses and ride some Group winners, but you know how many winners you had the year before. It would be great to top that, but I know every year it's going to get harder and harder to beat my own record.

"I've got some good connections with Archie and Imad, so hopefully we can get there again."

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Upping The Ante star Gavin Lynch joins the Racing Post roster for a weekly Saturday column throughout the jumps season. He'll offer a guide to the weekend action, highlight the horses and races to watch and share his punting wisdom. Read it every Saturday in the Racing Post or online from 4pm every Friday, exclusively for Members' Club subscribers. Sign up to Members' Club here for more top jumps season insight.