One of Jump racing’s most exciting prospects, Willoughby Court, will be among the headline acts at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, Monday, January 1.
Already a winner at The Festival in this year’s G1 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, the six-year-old is being readied for the £35,000 G2 BetBright Dipper Novices’ Chase (1.25pm) over just shy of two miles and five furlongs, one of three graded contests on the seven-race card which has boosted total prize money of £260,000, 23 per cent up on the 2017 level.
Willoughby Court (Ben Pauling) has extended his winning streak to five in two starts so far this season. He put an erratic jumping display on his novice chase debut at Huntingdon on November 5 behind him with a fluent three-length victory over Yanworth in a G2 novices’ chase at Newbury on December 1.
Pauling, who is based near Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire, said today: “I could not be happier with Willoughby Court.
“He had an easy time after Newbury- just ticking over – and did his first piece of work this morning. It was fabulous and it is all systems go for Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
“I would have loved to have gone and looked at the Feltham but, after it did not quite work out at Huntingdon for various reasons, I did not want to go back right-handed just yet and the Dipper looked the obvious choice.
“Although I am sure if we went to Kempton everything would be fine, if it wasn’t, you would be annoyed with yourself.
“This could be his last run before The Festival (back at Cheltenham in March). We will have to see because it is all match practice, but if he comes through this with flying colours, he might not be seen again until March.”
Cheltenham’s programme on New Year’s Day also features the £75,000 G3 BetBright Best For Festival Betting Handicap Chase (2.00pm, 2m 4f 166y) and the £50,000 G3 Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (3.10pm, 2m 4f 56y).
There are also two Listed contests – the opening £25,000 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (12.15pm, 2m 4f 56y) and the concluding £25,000 EBF Stallions & Cheltenham Pony Club Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (2.45pm, 1m 5f 209y).
The gates open at 10.30am. All accompanied children aged under 18 gain free admission on New Year’s Day.