Christie to make bold bid for Cheltenham hunter chase

David Christie is assembling a formidable team of hunter chasers and yesterday's wide-margin Thurles winner Ferns Lock was the latest from the Fermanagh trainer's yard to lay down a marker.

Only a six-year-old, the gelding by Telescope slammed last year's Cheltenham winner Billaway by twenty lengths under Barry O'Neill who must be enjoying the conveyor belt of talent in this sphere that is being produced by Christie's yard.

Granted, Billaway probably needed his first outing of the season and it must be remembered that Willie Mullins' charge was beaten a dozen lengths by Christie's Winged Leader in the corresponding race last term before getting up close home to touch off the latter at Cheltenham. That was an excruciating reverse for Christie after Winged Leader held a clear lead over the last but was overhauled up the hill at Prestbury Park.

Although Ferns Lock is now third-favourite for the St James's Place Hunters Chase at the festival, it may be the case that he won't travel with Christie having ante-post favourite Vaucelet, who scored at Down Royal over Christmas, Winged Leader and Limerick maiden winner Ultimate Optimist as his potential raiding party.

Christie said yesterday: "Ultimate Optimist will get an entry, along with Winged Leader, for Cheltenham. He (Ultimate Optimist) is a proper stayer and we'll think about running him in a hunters' chase at Naas (February 11th) and decide about Cheltenham after that.

"Winged Leader runs this weekend. I could have run him at Thurles but said I'd go a quieter route. Vaucelet remains the number one to go to Cheltenham but he, Winged Leader and Ultimate Optimist are the three which will get Cheltenham entries.

"They (including Thurles winner Ferns Lock) are great horses and give you a good guide on things."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes