'It's now all about the first Cheltenham Festival winner and getting that monkey off my back - I've been trying for 20 years'
Max McNeill excited as he aims for Cheltenham Festival first with No Drama This End
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Owner Max McNeill said the Irish novices must raise their game to stop No Drama This End as the leading jumps owner bids to end a 20-year hoodoo at the Cheltenham Festival in the Turners Novices' Hurdle.
The Paul Nicholls-trained runner was cut to 7-2 favourite for his target when producing a gutsy display to land the Grade 1 Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury on Monday and extend his unbeaten run over hurdles to three. They include a pair of wins at Grade 2 level, including over the course and distance of the Turners in November, and No Drama This End will not run again before March.
McNeill said the opposition "would have to be good" to beat No Drama This End, who he hailed as potentially the best horse he has owned in more than two decades.
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