Another Aramax? Boodles favourite Britzka out to cement Cheltenham credentials

We've seen two of the last four Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle winners on display in the opening four-year-old hurdle (12.50) at Fairyhouse, and Britzka is the standout contender in the same race this season.

The Gordon Elliott-trained youngster is now the general 8-1 favourite for the festival handicap after being well backed this week. He will be bidding to emulate stablemates Veneer Of Charm (2018) and Aramax (2020) by contesting this event en route to festival success.

Britzka was shrewdly bought for €40,000 by Elliott and Aidan O'Ryan from Eddie and Patrick Harty in November as a 66-rated Flat performer.

Britzka: 8-1 favourite for the Boodles' Juvenile Handicap HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

He scored decisively in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle last month before an eyecatching third to stablemate and Triumph Hurdle favourite Fil Dor in the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown.

"He ran a nice race at Christmas and is a course winner," said Elliott.

"Hopefully there looks to be plenty going for him and that he'll be right there."

Elliott said of recent Cork maiden hurdle winner Iberique Du Seuil: "He's progressed with each run over hurdles and we're hoping there's a bit more to come from him."

White Pepper, trained by Gavin Cromwell, had the measure of Iberique Du Seuil by 13 lengths when winning a Galway maiden hurdle in October and reopposes here, having finished a creditable third in a Listed fillies' juvenile hurdle at Aintree last month.

White Pepper: represents Gavin Cromwell in an intriguing Fairyhouse openerCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"It's a decent race but she's in good form and we're hoping she can run well," said Cromwell.

"I thought she ran a good race at Aintree when getting a bit tired on testing ground late on."

Willie Mullins is represented by the useful Feigh, who showed plenty of potential when winning on her hurdles bow at Killarney in August but hasn't quite been able to build on that.

Pat Fahy said of French recruit Black Sirius, bought for £30,000 after winning on his Toulouse hurdles bow: "We haven't got him that long and we'll learn more about him after this but it looks like he's a lovely type."

There's bound to be plenty of interest in the 3m handicap hurdle (1.50) in which Irish Grand National hero Freewheelin Dylan continues his preparation for a tilt at the Randox Grand National.

Freewheelin Dylan (left): got the better of Run Wild Fred (right) in last season's BoyleSports Irish Grand NationalCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Trainer Dermot McLoughlin is concerned about the prospect of testing ground for his stable star as he attempts to exploit a hurdles mark of 113 – 33lb lower than his chase rating.

McLoughlin said: "He's been in for a while and we're probably going to let him off for a while after this run before we plan for the road ahead. Unfortunately it looks like the ground is going to be against him though, so we'll see how things go."

Glenquin Castle seeks an eighth consecutive handicap win for Martin Brassil and JP McManus in the same event, while potential Cheltenham handicap hope Ardhill bids to follow up his well-backed win at Ascot last month.

Ardhill's trainer Gordon Elliott said: "He won well the last day and has a fair rise to contend with but we're hoping he still might be competitive."

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