Festival options pondered for Scilly Isles hero Sixmilebridge

Soft ground and the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase are top of Fergal O’Brien’s wishlist for Sixmilebridge as he dreams of finally ending his Cheltenham Festival drought with his Scilly Isles scorer.

The Megson Family-owned seven-year-old gave O’Brien a first Grade One since Crambo rsquo;s Long Walk strike in late 2024 when given an inspired front-running ride by the owners’ retained rider Kielan Woods at Sandown.

That victory saw Sixmilebridge made a 10-1 shot for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase next month, but having excelled over an intermediate trip so far over fences, the handicap option that Paul Nicholls’ Caldwell Potter won 12 months ago could prove the preferred option at Prestbury Park.

Probably his best trip at the minute is two-and-a-half miles with him wanting three miles in time, so in an ideal world, and if I could make a wish, it would be soft ground and I would probably line him up in the handicap.

Fergal O'Brien on Sixmilebridge

“It was a great day and I was delighted for the Megsons,” said O’Brien. “It has sunk in now and I’m grateful to have a horse like him in the yard, he’s such a good horse and we’ve always thought that.

“I’m just focusing on getting him to Cheltenham first before deciding on his target, and he’s had a quiet week after a hard race.

Conditions To Dictate Festival Target

“There are a lot of things to consider and in the mix and if it came up bottomless and there were only four runners in an Arkle, you could go that way, while if it was very soft you wouldn’t want to go three miles in a Brown Advisory.

“Probably his best trip at the minute is two-and-a-half miles with him wanting three miles in time, so in an ideal world, and if I could make a wish, it would be soft ground and I would probably line him up in the handicap.”

Trainer Eager To End Festival Drought

The Cheltenham Festival has proven a cruel mistress for the locally-based Irishman who, although enjoying notable victories at the track, is still awaiting a first success during National Hunt racing’s showpiece event.

On his wait for a first winner at the meeting, O’Brien added: “I can’t wait to get it over with, and hopefully he is as good a chance as we’ve had.

“We were unlucky with Alaphilippe (beaten a neck in the Pertemps) and Imperial Alcazar (second in the Plate) on the same afternoon (in 2022) and Barney Dwan went close when he bumped into a very good Graded horse (Presenting Percy, when second in the 2017 Pertemps).”