Tobefair excitement mounting but Hamer trying to keep it cool

Debra Hamer is keeping her feet firmly on the ground, but the 17 friends who share ownership of hurdling's most improved handicapper are struggling to contain their excitement as Tobefair closes in on Thursday's Pertemps Network Final.

The Pertemps possibly has more colourful backstories than all the festival Grade 1s put together, not least that of Tobefair's market rival Presenting Percy, whose trainer Patrick Kelly combined with owner Philip Reynolds to win the race last year with Mall Dini but described himself as "a raging bull" on learning the British handicapper had added 6lb to Presenting Percy's Irish mark.

None, however, can match the rags-to-riches story of Tobefair, owned by the hugely enthusiastic regulars of the picturesque Cresselly Arms on the estuary at Cresswell Quay, near Pembroke, including Michael Cole, who has had him since he was a newborn and maintained a half-share while recruiting friends to spread the cost.

They have been swept along on a tidal wave of joy and excitement since Tobefair struck off a lowly mark of 81 at Worcester almost two years ago on his first start for Hamer, for his recent Newbury win off 134 was his seventh on the trot. There will be scenes of unbridled joy if he wins again, but Hamer is not getting carried away.

While this is a first Cheltenham Festival runner in 16 years' training, she knows the pitfalls and has noted the succession of fancied contenders who have fallen by the wayside in recent weeks. She has got to a point at which she she just wants it to be over.

Hamer, who took out a full licence only after being left with no option when foot and mouth halted point-to-pointing in 2001, said on Sunday: "He seems very well in himself but he's so laid back it's hard to tell and I've always felt the Newbury run was a bit close to Cheltenham.

"He wouldn't have gone there if he'd gone up a couple of pounds more for winning at Warwick, but off 134 he wasn't sure to get in so we ran again and were hit by another 9lb rise. If he hadn't gone there he'd have gone fresh to Cheltenham."

Tobefair is "hard work" at home, but on the racecourse it's a different story.

Hamer said: "He doesn't do a lot at home on his own, but on the other hand he doesn't get wound up about things and he loves his racing, although he holds back unless you ask him."

Hamer, who intended giving Tobefair only one run over hurdles initially, added: "I'll just be glad to get it over with now. We've been training long enough to have had plenty of decent horses before, but we've never had publicity like this until Tobefair came along.

"He's exceptional, and I think he'll cope with Chetenham as not a lot fazes him. He deserves to be there as he has a lot of determination and guts, but I'll be over the moon if he finishes in the first six or so as it's such a big field and there are some real nice horses.

"Whatever happens, that will be it for the season. He's a big horse and he schools lovely over fences. I always saw him as a chaser and think he could be really exciting."