Llewellyn Plots Along Route

Carl Llewellyn is favouring a crack at one of the handicap hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival with his smart novice Roll Along.

Unbeaten in three bumpers, he created a nice impression in winning his first two starts over timber, at Cheltenham and Uttoxeter, before finishing third to Wichita Lineman in the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

However, having been allotted only 9st for the Coral Cup and 9st 4lb for the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle, Llewellyn will be praying the respective top weights, Zaiyad and Desert Quest, take up other options.

'At the moment we are favouring a handicap with him. That could change, but at the moment it looks like a choice between the Coral Cup and the County Hurdle, depending on the ground,' he said.

'He's rated well behind some of the smart novices so we thought it would be a better idea to go for one of the handicaps.

'He's a professional sort of horse so I wouldn't worry about running him in a big field. He has only had three runs over hurdles, but his jumping has been very good.

'It's is not as if he is a big, green baby either, he gets on with his job quite well.

'We could do with the ground drying up for him though. He has won in heavy ground at Uttoxeter, but to see him at his best he wants better ground.

'The ground at the moment is against him, but it can dry out quick at Cheltenham, at the moment it is not drying out at all though, if anything it is getting worse!'

Roll Along is a general 20-1 chance for the Coral Cup and a 25-1 shot for the County Hurdle.

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