Tuesday 14 February 2017 11:09, UK
Warren Greatrex is confident the frantic nature of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at next month's Cheltenham Festival will suit Western Ryder down to the ground.
The five-year-old, who is part owned by golfer Lee Westwood, finished second when trying to register back-to-back Listed race victories at Newbury on Saturday.
Despite that defeat, Greatrex believes Western Ryder can feature prominently in the Grade One on March 15.
He said: "I was extremely pleased with that run. To give 21lb to a mare (Daphne Du Clos) Nicky Henderson thinks a lot of and only get beaten just over three lengths, you have got to be chuffed with that. I think he will improve on the back of that run.
"Although he had already won a Listed race, the other day was just a test to make sure he was ready to take to Cheltenham and I think that he showed that he is ready.
"This horse will thrive on the fast-run race, the hurly burly of it and the big atmosphere - he goes there, I would have thought, with a leading chance."
Western Ryder looks set to be joined at Prestbury Park next month by stablemate Boite, with Greatrex earmarking the County Hurdle for the seven-year-old following his mid-division finish in the Betfair Hurdle
He added: "I thought Boite ran really well on Saturday and he will probably go for the County Hurdle. Tom (Greatrex) did nothing wrong and I thought he gave him a great ride and the horse ran up to his mark.
"He is probably more of a two-and-a- half-mile horse, but the stiff finish over two at Cheltenham will help him."
