Meeting - The Open -
Friday, Saturday & Sunday November 16, 17 & 18
First race - 1.15pm
Friday, 12.45pm Saturday, 1.10pm Sunday - gates open 10am Friday &
Saturday, 11.00am Sunday
Wedger Pardy, who contested all three
Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeplechases at Cheltenham last season, is likely to
bid for his first success over the unique course in the £25,000 Glenfarclas
Cross Country Steeplechase on the first day of The Open, Countryside Day, Friday,
November 16.
Kim Bailey's charge
finished sixth in last season's renewal of the three mile, seven furlong
contest before running out on the home turn when three lengths clear at The
International in December.
He put up an excellent at
The Festival to finish five and a quarter lengths third to Balthazar King and
was last seen out when falling in the Listed Prix Anjou-Loire Challenge at Le
Lion-d'Angers racecourse, France, on May 17.
Bailey revealed: "We
are looking at the Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeplechase at The Open for
Wedger Pardy. He is fine and in good form.
"He was bought to go
and run in cross country races and was unlucky not to win at The International.
He then he ran well to finish third at The Festival.
"It's his job to run
in all these cross country races and he will follow the same route as last year
before possibly going to America for Maryland Hunt Cup in the spring.
"He enjoys running in
cross country races and it's nice to run a horse like him in these races as
they can win some good prize money if they are capable enough."
The Open kicks off with
Countryside Day on Friday, November 16. A six-race card also includes the
£45,000 Paddypower.com Handicap Chase over two miles and the £25,000 Grade Two
Opus Energy Novices' Hurdle over an extended two miles.
The £160,000 Grade Three
Paddy Power Gold Cup is the highlight of The Open on Saturday, November 17, and
the extended two and half mile handicap chase has gone to some of Jump racing's
biggest names since it's inception in 1960. In 2008 the race was won by
Imperial Commander, who went on to win the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2010.
A terrific card on
Saturday also features the £25,000 Grade Two JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial over an
extended two miles and the £50,000 Grade Three Henrietta Knight Handicap Chase
over just short of three and a half miles.
Sunday's showpiece is the
£100,000 Grade Three Racing Post Hurdle over an extended two miles which can be
a key pointer to the Stan James Champion Hurdle at The Festival in March. The
final day of The Open also includes the £50,000 Shloer Chase over two miles,
the £25,000 Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle over two
miles and five furlongs and the £25,000 Grade Two Racing Post Arkle Trophy
Trial Novices' Chase.
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