Wednesday 30 April 2014 09:44, UK
Michael Winters plans to have Rebel Fitz at fever pitch in a bid to land a rare double at Galway this summer.
Michael Winters plans to have Rebel Fitz at fever pitch in a bid to land a rare double at Galway this summer.
The nine-year-old won the Guinness Galway Hurdle in 2012 and is being aimed at the Tote Ireland Galway Plate to try to emulate Ansar, who won both races at Ireland's biggest racing Festival.
Dermot Weld's course specialist lifted the Hurdle in 2001 and the Plate in 2004 and 2005.
Rebel Fitz, who landed a novice chase at the meeting in 2013, is now enjoying a well-deserved holiday after opening his Grade One account in the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse's Easter meeting.
To put Rebel Fitz spot on for his big date, Winters will give him a pipe-opener either at Cork or more likely at Tipperary on July 20.
"We left him out on Monday night and have taken the rug off him. He's got 10 acres to explore and I'd say he'd be in great order for the summer," said the Cork-based handler.
"We thought he was a little bit flat mid-race the last day, but we were delighted with the way he finished his last race.
"There's a race at Cork just before the Grimes, but I'd say the Grimes Hurdle is probably where we we'll be going and then we'll be running him in Galway. We'll have a shot there in the Plate.
"I'd like to think he'd be in the money there again. We've had two great summers out of him already."
