Trainer Charlie Longsdon is preparing an exciting team of young
horses for The Open next week at Cheltenham, which takes place from Friday to
Sunday, November 15-17.
The
most high-profile contender is the JP McManus-owned Pendra, out of
top-class chaser Mariah Rollins, who jumped impeccably when making a winning
chase debut over two miles at Carlisle on October 24.
There
are a couple of options for the Old Vic five-year-old at The Open, including
the £32,000 Grade Two Racing Post Arkle Trial Novices' Chase over two miles on
the Sunday.
Longsdon
reported: "I was very happy with Pendra at Carlisle and he could run
at The Open.
"He
will certainly be entered for a couple of races there, but it is still early
days with him and we will have a better idea later in the week.
"We
will be looking to step him up in trip at some point, but I need to discuss
things with the J P (McManus) team. He is only 50/50 at this stage as there
will also be other options for him."
Killala
Quay is unbeaten over hurdles since joining the Chipping Norton
handler. The six-year-old captured a two and a half mile Aintree novices'
hurdle by 10 lengths in July and stayed on strongly to land a similar contest
by six lengths at Chepstow on October 12.
Longsdon
said: "Killala Quay will go to Cheltenham for either the Grade Two
Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (November 16) or the David
Johnson Memorial Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (November 15).
"He
goes nicely at home and has done nothing wrong in two starts, so we will step
him up and see how he gets on.
"He
has got an interesting pedigree as he is out of a five-furlong sprinter and
apparently he was mistake. He was a good mistake though and seems to stay well.
"Although
he has been winning on good ground, he wants soft ground. He wouldn't want it
too slow, but definitely on the softer side."
Longsdon
is eyeing the £20,000 Listed Cheltenham Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race
(November 17) for Wadswick Court, who mowed down Weatherbys Champion
Bumper fifth Purple Bay in a competitive contest at Huntingdon on October 15.
Also under consideration for the same race is Our Kaempfer, an
effortless winner on his sole start under Rules in a Worcester bumper on October
10.
The
trainer declared: "The two that could go for the bumper are Wadswick Court and
Our Kaempfer.
"Wadswick
Court has won at Hereford and Huntingdon and you don't get many chances to run
in such a valuable race at this stage, so he might well go there.
"Our
Kaempfer won very nicely at Worcester and I think he has bright future, but I
won't be rushing him."
Longsdon
has started the 2013/14 Jump season in brilliant style, with 42 winners so far
at a strike rate of 27 per cent.
About
The Open
The
Open is a prestigious and historic three-day meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse,
which signals that the new Jump season is in full swing. There is record prize
money of £743,000 in 2013, with the feature Paddy Power Gold Cup worth
£160,000.
Staged
on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 15, 16 & 17. The Open is the
second highest-profile meeting at the home of Jump racing, following The
Festival in March and a huge event in its own right.
The
Open provides thrilling competition between many of the best Jump horses in
Europe, with crowds of around 70,000 over the three days.
It is
regarded by many as the biggest and most important meeting of the first half of
the Jump season - a weekend of entertainment, sport and fun not to be missed,
including many trade stands in The Open shopping village.
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