Trainer Oliver Sherwood is
considering Deputy Dan for the £27,500 Grade Two Neptune Investment
Management Novices' Hurdle (3.00pm, 17 entries) over two miles and five
furlongs at Warwick on Saturday, January 11.
The six-year-old won two
of his three starts in bumpers last term and got off the mark at the third time
of asking over hurdles with an impressive 19-length success on heavy ground at
Chepstow on December 28.
He had shaped
encouragingly in his first two outings over hurdles, finding only Champagne
West, who won by 10 lengths at Wincanton next time, a length too strong in a
course and distance event on December 8 and losing out to Oscar Fortune by a similar
margin at Carlisle on November 3.
Sherwood reported: "I
haven't looked at the entries for the Neptune Investment Management Novices'
Hurdle yet and need to discuss it with the owner, so I will assess it and make
a decision on Wednesday or Thursday. He is in there with the idea to run, but I
just want to see how he progresses during the week.
"He has come out of
Chepstow in brilliant form and I am very much aware of capitalising when the
ground is like this. He obviously loves it and other horses don't.
"I think he should be
up to this sort of level. They put him 10 pounds for winning at Chepstow and he
is now rated 132, so he is entitled to have a go at this instead of going for
an ordinary novice race."
A high-class entry also
features Creepy (Martin Keighley) and Killala Quay (Charlie
Longsdon), winners of Neptune Investment Management-sponsored Grade Two
contests at Cheltenham and Sandown respectively, decisive Ascot scorer Royal
Boy (Nicky Henderson)and the unbeaten Red Sherlock (David Pipe).
Other notables include
highly-regarded Wetherby victor Diamond King (Donald McCain) and dual
hurdle winners Vice Et Vertu (Henry Daly) and Spirit Of Shankly
(Charlie Longsdon), while Irish interest comes in the shape of the Willie
Mullins-trained Rathvinden, who has won two bumpers and a maiden hurdle
on his three starts to date.
About the series
The Neptune Investment
Management Novices' Hurdle series consists of eight races throughout the Jump
season, culminating with the Grade One Neptune Investment Management Novices'
Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
It has proved not only an
outstanding showcase for young hurdling talent but also a stepping stone to
those that go on to shine at the highest level in open company, whether over
hurdles or fences.
The Cheltenham Festival
winners under Neptune Investment Management's sponsorship are The New One
(2013), Simonsig (2012), First Lieutenant (2011) and Peddlers Cross (2010),
while winners of the series races include last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup
hero Bobs Worth.
Now one of the leading
corporate sponsors of British racing, Neptune has increased its sponsorship
portfolio to include four races on the Flat in the summer, including two of the
most prestigious trials for the Ladbrokes St Leger, the Gordon Stakes at
Goodwood and the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.
2013/14 Neptune Investment
Management Novices' Hurdle Series
Friday, October 18, 2013 -
Cheltenham - Won by Saint Roque, owned by Chris Giles & Ian Fogg, trained
by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Daryl Jacob.
Saturday, November 16,
2013 - Cheltenham - Won by Creepy, owned by Mark Boothright, T Hanlon and S
Harman, trained by Martin Keighley and ridden by Ian Popham.
Friday, December 6, 2013 -
Sandown - Won by Killala Quay, owned by Richard & Susan Perkins, trained by
Charlie Longsdon & ridden by Richard Johnson.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
- Cheltenham - Won by Aubusson, owned by Jane Williams, trained by Nick
Williams and ridden by Lizzie Kelly.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
- Warwick
Saturday, January 25, 2014
- Cheltenham
Saturday, February 15, 2014
- Ascot
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
- Cheltenham Festival
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