'I've had this race in mind since he joined us' - can Mirabad strike on his debut for Dan Skelton in Greatwood Hurdle?

Some of Dan Skelton's biggest early successes came in valuable handicap hurdles and the British trainers' championship leader unleashes three in his bid for a third Greatwood Hurdle.

Mirabad has shortened up throughout the week into favouritism before his first start for the yard, having won at the track when trained by Richard Newland and Jamie Insole last season. 

Faivoir won the County Hurdle in 2023 and has a familiar partner in Heidi Palin.

Skelton, who won this in 2016 with North Hill Harvey and 2021 with West Cork, said: "I've had this race in mind for Mirabad since he joined us. He's had an away day and I was never going to give him a prep run, so I don't have any negatives, other than it's hyper competitive.

"Faivoir has previous high-class handicap form and it looks like he's got all the enthusiasm and athleticism for it, but he's just getting older. I think the handicapper has him too high, but he's got a run under his belt and it will stand him in good stead."

Alexei in 'form of his life' says Tizzard

Alexei finished second in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Chepstow last month but has since won impressively at Ascot, beating another lightly raced young improver in Indemnity with consummate ease.

Joe Tizzard: runs the progressive AlexeiCredit: Edward Whitaker

Joe Tizzard, trainer of Alexei, reports his candidate to be in “the form of his life”.

He said: “He's a progressive horse and was very impressive at Ascot last time. The ground will be a new experience for him but we'll take our chance.”

What they say

Tom Lacey, trainer of Gibbs Island
Four-year-olds can often be harshly treated in big handicaps, but he has proven form on soft ground on his Flat-race record. I'm looking forward to running him. It looks a high-class Greatwood this year, but I'm really hopeful. He went through the race at Chepstow really well and goes there with a big chance. He should cope with the ground. I feel really positive about him.

Ben Pauling, trainer of Fiercely Proud
He's in good form and has been away for two racecourse gallops to make sure he's fit. He goes well fresh, he'll love the ground and I'm looking forward to seeing how he gets on at a big price.

Alan King, trainer of Castle Carrock and Helnwein
We feel Castle Carrock needs another season handicap hurdling before he jumps a fence. This has been the target for some time. I’d imagine we’ll step him up in trip after, he probably wants two and a half miles but this is a good starting point. Helnwein is a good horse on his first run of the season, and he’s a better horse in the spring. We tend to lose him in midwinter, but we’ve targeted this race since he ran at Haydock in May.

Tony Martin, trainer of Putapoundinthejar
He was disappointing over hurdles at Listowel. He ran poorly because of the soft ground. He ran well at the Curragh on the Flat a few weeks ago, but we didn’t realise the ground would be as bad when we brought him over to Cheltenham. We're hoping that the rain doesn’t get into it too much.

Cian Collins, trainer of Fiveonefive
I thought he ran very well at the October meeting when fifth. We're looking forward to putting him into a big handicap like this, off what is hopefully a strong gallop. I'd be worried about the ground, but hopefully they don’t get as much as they think. I wouldn’t like him on heavy.

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Serious Challenge
He's in great form and we're very happy with him. We probably ran him over the wrong trip first time out, but he seems in cracking form at home and I think he'll like the ground.

Chris Gordon, trainer of King William Rufus
He’s like a caged tiger, but might be better on good or good to soft going. I hope it doesn’t get too sloppy, but we’ll have a go.

Read more . . .

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Paul Kealy smashed in 22-1 and 11-2 winners at Cheltenham on Saturday - and he's found one 'treated leniently' on Sunday's card 

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