Tammys may yet face the Cheltenham Hill

Tammys Hill's connections haven't ruled out running the gelding in the Foxhunters Chase at Cheltenham with a final decision on his participation to be made following a prep run at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

The Liam Lennon trained gelding had generally been joint-favourite for the Foxhunters Chase following his recent Leopardstown win but connections subsequently indicated that the leading hunter chaser might instead run in the Ulster National at Downpatrick.

Speaking today, the gelding's work-rider and groom James Smyth, whose father Patrick Smyth owns Tammys Hill, stated “we haven't ruled out Cheltenham for Tammys Hill but we'll run him in a hunters' chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday and, depending on how he runs, we'll make our minds up then.

“There are no bad hunters chases in Ireland at the moment but he's in better form now than he was going to Leopardstown and he worked well yesterday. Racing him back on a right-handed track shouldn't be an issue and while he's better on better ground, it is the same for the others.

“Robbie McNamara will ride him again on Saturday and we'll get the day over before making a final decision on Cheltenham but we can't wait to see him race on good ground.”

Tammys Hill is generally just a 6/1 chance for the Foxhunters Chase at Cheltenham.

By Thomas Weekes