Tom Humphries hoping Arthur is the gift that keeps on giving

3.40 Cheltenham
Citipost Handicap Hurdle | 3m | 4yo+ | ITV4/RUK

All Tom Humphries wants for Christmas is for Arthur's Gift to continue his winning run and hand him a longed-for first victory at the home of jump racing on Friday.

The 7lb claimer will get the leg-up aboard the six-year-old once again in the concluding contest on the opening day of Cheltenham's International meeting, a 3m handicap hurdle worth £22,000 and live on ITV4.

Humphries, who has ridden at Cheltenham only half a dozen times before, has partnered Arthur's Gift to a pair of wins already in the last month and is optimistic that, despite now reaching a mark of 130, there could be more to come.

"He's going up in grade but I think three miles will bring about more improvement," said the 24-year-old. "There's a question mark about the ground but he's improving all the time and deserves to take his chance."

If Arthur's Gift can make it a hat-trick it will be a moment to savour for Humphries, who admits he has often dreamed of guiding a winner up Cheltenham's famous hill.

"It's great to work for a boss like Nigel Twiston-Davies," he continued. "He always gives you chances and having won two on him, it's nice to keep the ride in a big race like this.

"I've been going to Cheltenham for as long as I can remember, so a winner would mean an awful lot. It's what every young lad dreams of, but I'll be focusing on the race first and if it happens, it happens."

What they say

Warren Greatrex, trainer of Shantou Bob
He's got a lot of weight but forget his Carlisle run, he wasn't fully wound up for that. He'll like the conditions, stays very well and is the classy horse in the race. He retains a lot of ability.

David Pipe, trainer of Champers On Ice and Taj Badalandabad
This is a competitive race but Champers On Ice ran well at Haydock and should like it around Cheltenham. Taj Badalandabad will like the trip and the ground. He's in good form at home should run his race.

Kim Bailey, trainer of Rocky's Treasure
I was delighted with how he ran last time and hopefully the ground is slightly better than it was then, which will suit him.

Sophie Leech, trainer of Anteros
He loves Cheltenham and I'd say the ground by the end of the day is going to be fairly soft, which he'll enjoy as well. He's come out of his last race well, so we'd be hopeful he can either repeat that or with a bit of luck go one better.

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Luccombe Down
He's a very consistent horse, always runs his race and likes it around Cheltenham. He's the master of his own downfall by being so consistent. He always tries his best and he's been placed in two starts around Cheltenham, so if he can finish in the first three or four, we'd be delighted. I'd be a bit concerned about the ground though.

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