Top amateur Derek O'Connor set to ride leading National Hunt Chase contender

Securing the services of a top rider can be a major advantage in the amateur-only contests at the Cheltenham Festival, and trainer Gavin Cromwell is attempting to snap up Derek O'Connor for Vanillier in next month's National Hunt Chase.

A runaway winner of last year's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the festival, Vanillier looked a classy recruit to chasing when impressing in an eventful running of the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown, in which there were just two finishers.

Vanillier: 'He seems to be really coming to hand now'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The imposing grey failed to build on that when a safely held third to Fury Road and Run Wild Fred in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown over Christmas, and filled the same position behind Stattler and Farouk D'Alene at Naas last month.

Cromwell has made no secret of the fact a return to Cheltenham has been the priority for Vanillier this season, though, and the booking of O'Connor could be a significant boost to his prospects of a festival repeat, for which he is priced between 6-1 and 15-2.

Speaking on the Racing Post's In The Know show, Cromwell said: "It's not 100 per cent confirmed, but I think Derek O'Connor will ride him. Derek rides quite a few for me and is a top fellow. This is obviously a very good race on paper and I think Vanillier is going to be progressive – I hope he is. He seems to be really coming to hand now.

"I was much happier with his jumping last time at Naas and I think staying the trip certainly won't be a problem. I've trained him very much with Cheltenham in mind. Last year he completely flopped at the Dublin Racing Festival and bounced back from it and I think he comes to his best in the spring."

O'Connor, an 11-time champion point-to-point rider, has won the National Chase twice on Chicago Grey (2011) and Minella Rocco (2016).

National Hunt Chase

bet365: 2 Stattler, 5-2 Run Wild Fred, 15-2 Vanillier, 8 Fury Road, 10 Ontheropes, 11 Farouk D'Alene, 12 Does He Know, Threeunderthrufive, Braeside, 18 bar

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