Belfast Banter set for Goshen clash on big Saturday for Irish runners in Britain

Cheltenham and Aintree festival winner Belfast Banter is out to continue his British winning spree for trainer Peter Fahey in the Grade 2 Unibet Elite Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday, leading a strong Irish raiding party this weekend.

There was no stopping the talented six-year-old last spring when he plundered the County Hurdle and Grade 1 Top Novices' Hurdle, but luck was not on his side in the Galway Hurdle.

Meeting traffic problems and not helped by some messiness at the start, Belfast Banter's chance was ended when his rider's saddle slipped after a mistake at the third-last.

Saturday racecards and betting

Saturday's anticipated clash with Goshen and Sceau Royal will be the Direct Bloodstock Limited-owned performer's first start since falling at the last in a valuable Listowel festival handicap when fighting for a place.

Belfast Banter: one of 23 Irish-trained winners at last season's Cheltenham FestivalCredit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)

"It's certainly the plan for him to run this weekend," Fahey told the Racing Post. "We know that good ground is important to him and I think the weather forecast is looking promising.

"We're happy with him at home and his owner Fergal O'Neill picked out this race – hopefully it could be a nice opportunity for him to run a big race.

"It looks like there could be plenty of pace in the race, judged on the initial entries. It was unfortunate he came down last time when running well."

Sole Pretender, trained by Norman Lee, is another possible Irish runner in the Elite Hurdle, although the Grade 3 winner is also entered in a 2m4f hurdle at Aintree on Saturday.

Sole Pretender: won the Grade 3 Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary earlier this seasonCredit: Patrick McCann

Lee said: "We're looking to travel if the ground is right for him. He ran well [when eighth] in the Galway Hurdle but I think we'll be running him in conditions and Graded races for the winter, rather than go into the hustle and bustle of big handicaps again."

Edward O'Grady has enjoyed several memorable days at Aintree, including Sacundai's defeat of Rooster Booster in the 2003 Aintree Hurdle. He looks to have a live chance in the Betway Grand Sefton Handicap Chase with admirable stalwart The West's Awake.

"I had intended running him in this race for the last two years but each time he's done something silly to himself like getting cast, ruling himself out," said O'Grady, who will be bidding for a first win over the famous National fences.

"Finally, it looks like he'll be able to get a chance at running there and I hope he'll enjoy it. I've had a few horses that have been unlucky in the National and I was just touched off in the Foxhunters' a long time ago. It's great to be competing in those races."

The West's Awake: set to make his first start over the National fences at Aintree on SaturdayCredit: Patrick McCann

He added: "I thought he ran very well at Cork last time when third. He might have been a little out of his comfort zone early on but when he got into a rhythm I thought he ran super, particularly when it was over shorter than he'd ideally like [at two miles and a furlong]."

Henry de Bromhead could also saddle Spyglass Hill in the 2m5f feature, while O'Grady has entered recent Flat handicap winner Act Of God in Aintree's Pertemps Qualifier.

"The handicapper was certainly impressed with him at Gowran last time when raising him 11lb," said O'Grady. "It would be nice if he could run well and qualify for the final in March."

Espion Du Chenet, trained in County Kilkenny by Louise Lyons, is an interesting contender for the 0-140 handicap chase at Aintree over 2m.

"He was brilliant last time at Down Royal and with him being so well in himself we said we'd have a look at this race," said Lyons.

"I grew up on the Wirral and would have gone racing at Aintree quite a bit when I was younger, so it's nice to be heading back over there with a runner."

Read these next:

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Gary Moore looks to Goshen to keep the good times rolling in Elite Hurdle

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.