Cheltenham Festival tilt on the cards for Derry horse Decor

Bargain buy Decor Irlandais is on target for a run at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival according to trainer Noel Kelly.

After winning four point-to-points in the North last season, the seven-year-old gelding by the Poliglote horse Hello Sunday embarked on a novice hurdle campaign in the summer. Having won twice at Cartmel, he was impressive under a double penalty when winning at Catterick before Christmas.

Last time out, under vastly-experienced amateur Noel McParlan, he put in a career best when beaten three quarters of a length in the Ballymore-sponsored Leamington Novices’ Hurdle (Grade Two) at Warwick.

His conqueror on that occasion Mossy Fen, from the in-form Nigel Twiston-Davies stable, has since been raised to a BHA handicap rating of 143, so it was solid form for the grade.

Draperstown, Co.Derry-based Kelly outlined plans for his stable star.

“We’ll give him a break now and then go to Cheltenham. He’ll just go on a walker for ten days and out in a field of grass to freshen him up.

“We’ll probably not run him before Cheltenham and just gallop him twice at some of the good tracks.

“He’s a good horse. He travels well and does everything well. He’s probably not good enough to win at Cheltenham but he deserves a chance and if he could finish in the first four or five for a small yard that would be seriously good.

“He has a few gears and will probably go for the Ballymore (Novices’ Hurdle). We can take on Envoi Allen and if we could get a place we’d be very happy.

“He’s a very lucky horse and was bought very cheap.”