Lieutenant Colonel© Photo Healy Racing
Lieutenant Colonel leads from the front in a seven-strong Irish assault on the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Trained in County Kildare by Sandra Hughes and owned by Gigginstown House Stud, the six-year-old has looked a stayer of significant promise this term.
Lieutenant Colonel has won his last two races over hurdles, both at Grade One level, after a chasing career was shelved by former trainer Dessie Hughes, who died in November.
Sandra Hughes said: "He's probably head of the team this year. He's going there with a chance in a very open year.
"He's won his two Grade Ones so he certainly deserves to take his chance and I'm not worrying about him travelling.
"A lot of people said when he won the Hatton's Grace it might have been a soft Grade One, but when he came out and won at Christmas he proved he's a Grade One horse." Jetson has twice chased home Lieutenant Colonel this season, but claimed the notable scalp of Quevega at Punchestown last May.
Trainer Jessica Harrington said: "He sort of suddenly decided he's a Grade One horse at the age of nine, which is very unusual.
"In the Hatton's Grace he definitely needed the run and Davy Russell felt going to the last he was going to win.
"At Christmas I think he was a bit unlucky as he's not very big and he got leant on by the bigger horse and I think he was fairly intimidated, but he ran his heart out.
"He hasn't had a race since Christmas as there was nothing for him to run in. The form is very up and down in England and there hasn't been anything that's stood out." Monksland has had his issues - he was sidelined for two years until his return in December - but Noel Meade feels a sound surface at Cheltenham could be the making of him.
"It's been a struggle all year," said the County Meath handler.
"If you could train him the way you'd want to train him I'm sure he'd be a hell of a horse.
"On better ground I'm sure he'll be a better horse. He has a chance." Dedigout defeated Monksland by a short head in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran in January, with trainer Tony Martin hoping for a little cut in the ground.
He said: "The ground will be lovely, it's just yielding ground, and he won't mind that at all.
"When he runs on soft ground it just seems to slow the others down more than him, that's all.
"Hopefully he'll give a good account of himself."
