Trainer Graeme McPherson, who is based not far from Cheltenham at Stow-on-the-Wold, is looking forward to running his stable star Ami Desbois in the £35,000 BetBright Dipper Novices’ Chase (1.25pm,), one of the highlights of a cracking seven-race programme at the Home of Jump Racing on New Year’s Day.
The seven-year-old Dream Well gelding, currently a tempting 14/1 with Betfred, enjoyed a good season over hurdles in the 2016/17 campaign, winning four times and also finishing fifth in the G1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival in March. This season he is a perfect two out of two over fences, with a pair of victories at Wetherby in November and December.
McPherson said: “Ami Desbois will definitely go for the BetBright Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
“He is in absolutely cracking form and I am delighted to see all this rain and dreadful weather about as it means he will have his optimum conditions for the first time this season.
“We had considered running him in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day but decided to wait for Cheltenham, due to the forecast. I had a walk around Kempton before Christmas and thought it walked good to soft, so even with some rain it was not likely to be as soft as Cheltenham will be after a week of rain.
“I think he would have run very, very well in the Kauto Star and the extra few days and the softer ground is going to help him rather than hinder him.
“I think it is going to be a very exciting race.”
A formidable contest is in prospect for the BetBright Dipper Novices’ Chase with the entries for the two mile and five furlong contest also including Willoughby Court (Ben Pauling), successful in the G1 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival last season and faultless over fences this season with two successes from as many starts, most recently defeating Yanworth (Alan King), himself a dual G1 scorer over hurdles, in a G2 contest at Newbury on December 1.