Fenix Has Greatwood Target

Lucy Wadham is hoping to run Fenix at the £50,000 Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday week.

The six-year-old put up some creditable performances last season, notably when runner-up to Medison in the Sunderlands Imperial Cup at Sandown.

'We´d like to go to Cheltenham, it´s in my thoughts to run the horse. He´s fit and well and in very good order. He´ll probably improve for the run but we´re keen to see how he operates at Cheltenham,' said the Newmarket trainer.

She did sound a note of caution, stating the horse would be an unlikely starter if the likes of Inglis Drever and Rooster Booster remained in the race and that her charge needed some give in the ground to take his chance.

'We´d be doubtful if those top ones run because we would be out of the handicap. He likes cut, so good to soft or softer is fine, but good ground wouldn´t be fine,' she continued.

'He was in the conditional jockeys´ race at Cheltenham last week but he had a corn so we had to take him out although he´s fine now.

'I´ve put him in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday but I think he won´t get in the weights there.

'He takes his racing well and is better off with these light weights in the big handicaps rather than with a lot of weight in smaller races.'

The Greatwood Handicap Hurdle has attracted 54 entries, including six from Martin Pipe´s stable and 13 possible Irish raiders.

(C) PA Sport