Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle preview: Maputo heads six in Sky Bet mix
Saturday 14 November 2015 13:06, UK
John Ferguson's Maputo features among six runners for Sunday's Grade Two Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The two-mile contest is the first race in Sky Bet's "Road to Cheltenham", which culminates with the £120,000 Grade One Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday, March 15, 2016.
High-class Flat performer Maputo, who is 2/1 favourite for Sunday's race with Sky Bet, recorded a fourth straight win over the smaller obstacles with an easy six-length success in a Listed novices' hurdle at Kempton Park on October 18.
John Ferguson said: "Maputo is in great form at home and I have been delighted with him since he won at Kempton last time.
"Fingers crossed, all will be good on Sunday and he can take another step forward."
Nicky Henderson won last year's Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle with subsequent Grade One runner-up Vyta Du Roc and the Lambourn trainer has declared Altior (11/4, Nico de Boinville), who is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles.
Simon Squirrel (5/1, Paul Nicholls/Sam Twiston-Davies) made an impressive debut over hurdles at Newton Abbot on October 9, while Mister Miyagi (11/2, Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton) comfortably beat Drumlee Sunset (13/2, Philip Hobbs/Richard Johnson) in a maiden hurdle at Cheltenham on October 23.
The field is completed by Viens Chercher (10/1 Brian Ellison/Danny Cook), who has won both his starts since joining Brian Ellison from the stable of French trainer Guillaume Macaire.
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle Trial, Sky Bet odds: 2/1 Maputo; 11/4 Altior; 5/1 Simon Squirrel; 11/2 Mister Miyagi; 13/2 Drumlee Sunset; 10/1 Viens Chercer
Michael Shinners, Racing PR Manager at Sky Bet, commented: "We could not have wished for a better start to Sky Bet's "Road to Cheltenham" series with Sunday's Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham's Open meeting all set to be a cracking contest.
"Maputo has laid down an early marker this season with his Listed victory at Kempton while Altior and Mister Miyagi have both started their hurdling careers brightly. Paul Nicholls has made no secret of the regard in which he holds Simon Squirrel with Drumlee Sunset and Viens Chercer also open to improvement.
"Sky Bet is now in its third year of sponsoring the 'Road To Cheltenham' series and as always there are sure to be lots of stories and clues ahead of the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival."
