De Bromhead Hoping For A Cross Country Touch

Henry de Bromhead is looking to unleash Omni Cosmo Touch in the #35,000 BGC Cross Country Steeplechase (2.30pm), over three miles and seven furlongs, as part of a four-pronged assault on The Open at Cheltenham, which takes place from Friday, November 16, to Sunday, November 18.

County Waterford-based de Bromhead revealed today: 'I am hoping to run four horses at Cheltenham. Omni Cosmo Touch seems to be in great form and his first run back this season was very encouraging.

'He's a little bit of a character and we put the cheek-pieces on to try and get him to concentrate. We have done a bit of hunting with him and just tried to change his routine, to keep him interested.

'Andrew Lynch rode him at Thurles and he will be on board again.'

Omni Cosmo Touch experienced the Cheltenham Cross Country Steeplechase course when fifth to Heads Onthe Ground at The Festival and then, on his first start for de Bromhead after leaving Sue Smith's yard, came fourth to Spot Thedifference in the La Touche Cup at Punchestown in April. The 11-year-old warmed up for The Open when third over hurdles at Thurles on October 25.

De Bromhead continued: 'Omni Cosmo Touch had his first spin over the cross country steeplechase course in March, and he loved all the different fences. He was left at the start in the La Touche Cup at Punchestown and still ran a good race to finish fourth.

'I was very encouraged with how he jumped off at Thurles and if he does that again I would give him a live each way chance on Friday in the BGC Cross Country Steeplechase. He will certainly love the ground.'

Charlie Longsdon is looking forward to running the Sir Robert Ogden-owned Iris Royal at The Open on Friday in either the BGC Cross Country Steeplechase or the #25,000 Beards The Jewellers Cup (1.55pm) for amateur riders over an extended three miles.

The 11-year-old, successful in the Grade Three Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham in December 2003 for Longsdon's former boss Nicky Henderson, has already had a sighter of the unique cross-country fences.

Longsdon said today: 'Iris Royal schooled on the cross country steeplechase course last week but we haven't decided yet which race he runs in. We will see what the owner wants to do, so at the moment it is 50-50 between the amateur race on the same day and the Cross Country race.

'He loved the schooling session. After the first he was brilliant. He is an old pro, so I would like to think that he would take to it quite nicely.'

Iris Royal showed his well-being when, after racing prominently, he finished fifth to Mister Apple's in the DNH Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase over an extended three miles and a furlong at The Showcase on October 19.

Longsdon reported: 'He won the Boylesports.com Gold Cup four years ago and he probably should have won three weeks ago at the Cheltenham meeting when he slipped at the second-last. If he runs in that form again, whichever race he runs in, I would like to think he will run a very good race.

'If it is good ground, that would be perfect for him. He is a good-actioned horse and even though he won the Boylesports.com Gold Cup on softer ground, he has always been thought of as a good ground horse.'

The BGC Cross Country Steeplechase is a popular highlight on Friday, November 16, and has been won for the past three years by the remarkable Enda Bolger-trained Spot Thedifference, who is entered once again.

The JP McManus-owned 14-year-old is a great favourite with the Cheltenham crowd and is on target to bid for a remarkable seventh course victory, having won six of nine starts over the cross country steeplechase course.

Spot Thedifference could be joined in the field by stablemates Freneys Well, whom he defeated into second-place when winning the La Touche Cup at Punchestown in April, and Moscow Maui, winner of a Tralee hunter chase in May.

The field could also include the Ferdy Murphy-trained Ivoire De Beaulieu, successful over the course in December 2005, and the same year's John Smith's Grand National runner-up Royal Auclair.

As well as Omni Cosmo Touch, de Bromhead's team for The Open could include Sizing Europe in the #100,000 Grade Three Greatwood Hurdle (2.55pm) over an extended two miles, which is race eight in the Order Of Merit and run on the final day, Sunday, November 18.

The smart five-year-old, who is set to carry 11st 6lb, was travelling like the winner on his seasonal debut in a two and a quarter-mile Listed hurdle at Punchestown on October 17, before falling two out and leaving the race at the mercy of Aitmatov.

De Bromhead revealed today: 'I was disappointed to see the weights go up so much in the Greatwood Hurdle, as I would have loved to see Sizing Europe run off a nice light weight.

'He is a horse I like a lot and he looked ring-rusty when he fell last time out at Punchestown, when it looked like he was going to run very well. I've done a serious amount of schooling with him since, and he schooled this morning before leaving for Cheltenham. I couldn't be happier with him.

'He won on good ground at Punchestown and ran well on good to firm at Fairyhouse in April, so the ground shouldn't be an issue for him.'

De Bromhead hopes to have two runners on Paddy Power Gold Cup Day, Saturday, November 17, with Oscillating Oscar engaged in the Ryman The Stationers Novices' Handicap Hurdle (12.55pm) over an extended two miles and Sizing Australia set to take his chance in the Club 16-24 Novices' Chase (1.30pm) over three miles and half a furlong.

The trainer continued: 'Oscillating Oscar is a grand horse and I was pleased with his second at Thurles. That was his third run over hurdles, so he could be off a nice mark. He will love the ground. It is a shame that he may not get in the race, because I thought he might run well.

'Sizing Australia is a lovely horse. He might look a bit out of his depth on the official ratings, but he jumps and he stays. He would have an each-way chance, but it looks like it is going to be a competitive race. He was staying on well at the end on his last run at Thurles and the extra couple of furlongs will benefit him a lot.'