Big Guns Considering Boylesports.Com International

Connections of the very best hurdlers from both Britain and Ireland today revealed that they are seriously considering running their charges in the #200,000 Boylesports.com International, the highlight at Cheltenham on Saturday, December 9.

Philip Hobbs is looking forward to running the ante-post favourite for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, Detroit City, in the Boylesports.com International. The four-year-old grey landed last season's JCB Triumph Hurdle and made a winning seasonal reappearance under top weight in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at The Open on November 12.

The trainer declared today: 'Detroit City is very much on course for the big race at Cheltenham on Saturday. I am more than happy with him - very pleased.

'I gather that Hardy Eustace is likely to come over from Ireland and take him on but I have no idea otherwise who he will be up against.'

Eileen Hughes, wife of trainer Dessie Hughes, today reported that Hardy Eustace, winner of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle in 2004, 2005 and third in 2006, could well head to Cheltenham on Saturday.

Mrs Hughes said: 'We are hoping to send Hardy Eustace over to Cheltenham this weekend. The weather forecast looks reasonable but we don't want heavy ground. Winter soft ground is what we would like. The travelling doesn't bother him at all and he's in good form.'

Another Irish trainer, John Queally, is also considering the Boylesports.com International for Al Eile, fourth behind Brave Inca in the 2006 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

Queally commented: 'The intention is to go to Fairyhouse on Wednesday but I will have another look at the Boylesports.com International. He's in good form and we think he's back to himself.'

Tom Mullins, who has the star mare Asian Maze in his care, is also considering Saturday's contest, which takes place over two miles and a furlong.

Mullins revealed: 'I am considering the Boylesports.com International at Cheltenham for Asian Maze. She has come out of her last race in great shape. To push Brave Inca into third was a great effort and I think we will improve a fair bit from that race.'

The Boylesports.com International is the feature race of the mouth-watering Boylesports International, which comprises of two days of fantastic racing on Friday, December 8, and Saturday, December 9. All races will take place on Cheltenham's New Course, which has not been used since May.

The Boylesports.com International is the season´s premier race for Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle candidates. Boylesports, Ireland´s fastest growing independent bookmaker, has transformed the prize money and is also offering a huge #200,000 bonus (#180,000 to the owner, #10,000 to the trainer & #10,000 to the yard´s stable staff) to any horse that can win the Boylesports.com International and the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 13.

Alan King has entered four-year-old Blazing Bailey, a recent Haydock winner, in both the #200,000 Boylesports.com International (2m 1f) and the #40,000 Mears Group Relkeel Hurdle (2m 5f 110yds) on Saturday.

He reported today: 'Blazing Bailey is entered in the Boylesports.com International but is more likely to run in the Mears Group 'Relkeel' Hurdle as he would prefer the longer trip.

'I just want to keep my options open which is why I have entered him in both. He is well and has come on quite a bit from Haydock - the Relkeel may not be the easier option with Black Jack Ketchum in that.

'D´Argent is returning in the Boylepoker.com Handicap Chase on Friday, while Tikram is in the Boylesports.com Gold Cup on Saturday. '

28 FOR BOYLESPORTS.COM GOLD CUP

A total of 28 horses are still engaged in Saturday's principal supporting race, the #150,000 Boylesports.com Gold Cup over two miles and five furlongs.

Paul Nicholls, the champion trainer, has the two top-weights Thisthatandtother (11st 12lb) and Cerium (11st 9lb) plus Taranis, who was going well when falling two out in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, all still engaged in the Boylesports.com Gold Cup.

He commented today: 'The intention is to run Taranis and the other two are possibles - Thisthatandtother is highly likely to run and we will see how the week unfolds with Cerium who is a bit short of options.

'Taranis has had a lot of schooling since his fall and he is well. He wasn´t beaten when coming down but if you don´t jump, you don´t win.

'I am planning to run My Will (#100,000 Boylepoker.com Handicap Chase) and Kicks For Free ( EBF/Boylesports.com National Hunt Novices Hurdle) at Cheltenham on Friday.'

Paddy Power Gold Cup victor Exotic Dancer remains engaged along with the third, fourth, fifth and sixth - New Alco, Butler's Cabin, Graphic Approach and Tamarinbleu.

David Pipe, who has left five in the #150,000 Boylesports.com Gold Cup, said today: 'Contraband will probably run, Tamarinbleu we are not sure about, Commercial Flyer or Bannow Strand will run, while Madison Du Berlais could run as well.'

Commercial Flyer is the shortest-priced Pipe hope with the sponsors Boylesport at 8/1 joint second favourite behind 5/1 market leader Taranis but the trainer would not be drawn on the chances of his quintet.

He added: 'Exotic Dancer (who beat´s Pipe´s Vodka Bleu in Cheltenham´s #110,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup last month) will be hard to beat I would have thought.'

Four Irish-trained entries remain, headed by the Paul Nolan-trained Kill Devil Hill and Ross River, who represents the Tony Martin stable and won cosily at Punchestown on November 18.

Nicky Henderson still has two contenders to choose from in Copsale Lad and Mariah Rollins while another interesting contenders is Reveillez, successful in the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase at The Festival last season.

LATEST BOYLESPORTS PRICES FOR THE BOYLESPORTS.COM GOLD CUP: 5/1 Taranis, 8/1 Exotic Dancer, Commercial Flyer, Ross River, 10/1 Reveillez, 12/1 Copsale Lad, New Alco, 14/1 Thisthatandtother, Cerium, Kill Devil Hill, Graphic Approach, Hasty Prince, No Full, 16/1 Tamarinbleu, Knowhere, Pearly Jack, 20/1 Mariah Rollins, Billyvoddan, Bannow Strand, Madison Du Berlais, Darby Wall, 25/1 Contraband, Crozan, Tikram, Backbeat, Kalca Mome, Butler's Cabin, 33/1 Flying Spirit

Each-Way 1/4 the odds - 1, 2, 3, 4

STRONG SUPPORTING CARD

The fantastic seven-race card on Saturday, December 9, day two of the prestigious Boylesports International includes two superb Grade Two hurdle races, the Mears Group Relkeel Hurdle (1.30pm) and the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle (3.45pm).

The #40,000 Mears Group Relkeel Hurdle was won last year by the Henry Daly-trained Mighty Man, who went on to defeat Ladbrokes World Hurdle victor My way De Solzen in the Grade Two John Smith's And Flixton Conservative Club Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.

This year's renewal of the two mile, five and a half furlong contest is set to be of the highest class, with the brilliant unbeaten Black Jack Ketchum, winner of the Grade Two Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle at The Festival, heading the 11 entries.

Strong opposition to Jonjo O'Neill's charge could include the Philip Hobbs-trained Massini's Maguire, who landed the Gideon Kasler Novices' Hurdle over the course and distance at The Open, as well as the smart Alan King-trained Blazing Bailey, while 2005 Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle victor No Refuge and stablemate Mephisto could represent trainer Howard Johnson.

Massini's Maguire is also one of 14 entered in the #35,000 Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle, which was won last year by Black Jack Ketchum, who, like the Hobbs-trained gelding, won the Gideon Kasler Novices' Hurdle prior to landing this prize.

Opposition could include the classy Howard Johnson-trained Tidal Bay, unbeaten in two hurdle starts, and the same trainer's Hockenhein, who has won his last two races.

Others include Keith Reveley's promising recent Haydock handicap hurdle winner Accordello, the Henrietta Knight-trained Cruising River, the David Pipe-trained duo Joacci and Christdalo, alongside Labelthou from the Emma Lavelle yard, and the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Imperial Commander.

The superb seven-race card also features the #20,000 Boylepoker.com Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (12.20pm) in which the Alan King-trained Katchit will bid to follow up his success in the Grade Two Ryman The Stationer Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at The Open, while the two mile, five furlong #20,000 Boylecasino.com Novices' Chase (2.05pm) could see Denman bid to preserve his unbeaten record over fences.

The #20,000 Jenny Mould Memorial Handicap Chase (12.55pm) over an extended two miles has attracted 19 entries, headed by 2005 victor Tysou, trained by Nicky Henderson.

The ground at Cheltenham is currently GOOD TO SOFT on all courses, with further rain forecast throughout this week.