'He will run in March' - Gold Tweet connections set for Stayers' Hurdle tilt
Gold Tweet could bid to add the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle to his shock victory in Saturday’s Cleeve Hurdle, provided it fits in with connections' ambition to win the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris.
Trained by Gabriel Leenders for Gregory and Ambre Vayre, who race the six-year-old under the banner of their AGV Karwin Stud operation, Gold Tweet stunned former Stayers’ Hurdle winner Paisley Park and others when landing the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham by three lengths under Johnny Charron.
Gold Tweet was a first runner in Britain for Leenders, who is based near Angers in north-west France, with the trainer describing Saturday’s success as "a dream, my dream" and suggesting a return trip to the Cheltenham Festival in March was not out of the question.
Gold Tweet is not among the 28 entries for the Stayers’ Hurdle, betting on which is headed by recent Galmoy Hurdle winner Teahupoo at 11-4, and would need to be supplemented for the contest on March 10 at a cost of £14,787.
Speaking on Sunday, Leenders indicated it was his desire for Gold Tweet to get the chance to run, and he said: "He will run in March during the festival if all is normal."
Plans for Gold Tweet are set to be discussed in the coming weeks by Leenders and owner Gregory Vayre, who was unable to attend Cheltenham on Saturday due to foaling commitments at his Normandy farm.
Vayre pointed to Gold Tweet's record over fences — he has won three of his eight starts — as an indication of where the six-year-old's strengths lay, with the €900,000 Grade 1 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil on May 21 high on the owner’s agenda.
"We were very happy with this wonderful victory at Cheltenham," he said. "I will discuss plans with his trainer and see if we supplement him for the festival.
"We'll see how the horse returns to the stables in France. He is, above all, a steeplechaser and we also have in mind the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. We will study the programme to see what we will run in."
The French challenger is 8-1 with most firms for the Stayers’ Hurdle, with only Teahupoo, Home By The Lee and Blazing Khal shorter in the betting.
Stayers' Hurdle (3.30, March 16)
Paddy Power: 11-4 Teahupoo, 9-2 Home By The Lee, 11-2 Gold Tweet, 6 Blazing Khal, 10 Flooring Porter, Maries Rock, 12 Klassical Dream, Ashdale Bob, Saint Sam, 16 bar
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Published on 30 January 2023inCheltenham Festival
Last updated 19:14, 30 January 2023
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