Desert Quest Tops Weights For Cheltenham's Greatwood Hurdle

Desert Quest has been allotted top weight of 11st 12lb in the Grade Three #65,000 Greatwood Handicap Hurdle, run over two miles and half a furlong at Cheltenham on Sunday, November 12, the final day of the Paddy Power Gold Cup Meeting.

Paul Nicholls' improving six-year-old, winner of the Grade Three Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle at The Festival in March, continued his rapid progression up the hurdling ladder when cruising to an effortless victory on his seasonal return in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Ascot on October 28, defeating Caracciola (10st 6lb) by three lengths, conceding 10lb to the runner-up.

Another progressive performer, the Philip Hobbs-trained Noble Request, who finished last season with two clear-cut victories over Faasel at Ayr and Sandown, is on 11st 11lb, while Arcalis, successful in the 2005 Grade One Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle, has been saddled with 11st 8lb. His stablemate Mephisto, who won three of his five hurdle starts in 2005, has been asked to carry 10st 9lb.

Detroit City (11st) also hails from the powerful Philip Hobbs stable and is bidding to add to his successes in the Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle at The Festival and on the Flat in the totesport Cesarewitch at Newmarket, while Hasty Prince (10st 11lb), trained by Jonjo O'Neill, is a regular in top handicap company, and ran fifth on his reappearance at Chepstow last month.

Noland (10st 9lb), another Paul Nicholls inmate, captured the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on his final outing, where the Noel Meade-trained duo Sweet Wake (10st 3lb) and Jazz Messenger (10st 8lb) finished fifth and seventh respectively.

County Wexford handler Paul Nolan, who landed the 2004 renewal with Accordion Etoile, is looking to follow up with Guinness Galway Hurdle victor Cuan Na Grai (10st 5lb), while fellow Irish raider Red Square Lady (10st 6lb) represents the Michael Phillips yard.

David Pipe, in his first season training, has chances with his trio Desert Air (10st 4lb), Acambo (10st 2lb) and Pablo Du Charmil (10st 1lb), Alan King has the lowly-weighted pair Trouble At Bay (10st 2lb) and Howle Hill (10st 1lb), while Nicky Henderson has All Star (9st 12lb), Tarlac (9st 4lb) and Jack The Giant (9st 1lb).

Other interesting contenders include the Seamus Mullins-trained Kawagino (10st 13lb), John Quinn's pair Crow Wood (10st 4lb) and Aleron (10st 1lb), and O'Toole (10st 2lb), another entrant for Philip Hobbs, while Gary Moore's eight entries include Verasi (10st 1lb).