Kanad Looks To Follow-Up In The Greatwood Hurdle

Kanad will bid to collect his second major prize of the season when he heads to Cheltenham for the third day of The Open on Sunday, November 18, for the £100,000 Grade Three Greatwood Hurdle (2.55pm), run over an extended two miles.

The Charlie Mann-trained five-year-old completed a hat-trick when winning the highly competitive two-mile 'Bet Live'@williamhill.com Handicap Hurdle at Ascot on November 3, by a length and a quarter from Platin Grounds.

Mann revealed this morning: 'Kanad has come out of Saturday's race well and now he goes to the Greatwood Hurdle, depending on what weight he gets.

'He did it well at Ascot - it was a plan that we made a long time ago so it is nice when things come off. They normally don't work out quite so well.'

Mann believes there is more to come from the progressive Kanad, who has won four of nine starts over hurdles and scored at Ascot under 7lb claimer Kevin Tobin.

The Upper Lambourn handler said: 'He is an improving horse and I would hope there is more to come. He is only a five-year-old so he is quite a young horse and he is going the right way.

'Kanad is a rarity in that he is a horse that goes on near enough any ground. He is very versatile like that, although he would not want it as quick as it was at Ascot again.

'He is Noel's (Fehily) ride so it depends what weight he has as to whether Noel or Kevin rides him. Noel rides him unless he gets 10st again. Kevin did a good job on Saturday but at the same time, he is not my first jockey and Noel is. It is nice to know we have someone who can ride him if Noel can't do the weight.'

In winning the 'Bet Live'@williamhill.com Handicap Hurdle, Kanad defeated fellow Greatwood Hurdle entries Platin Grounds, Altilhar, Amour Multiple, Magic Sky, Special Envoy, Orpen Wide, Ouninpohja, Liberate and Cloone River.

Last year's Greatwood Hurdle was won by the Philip Hobbs-trained Detroit City, who won the prestigious contest after capturing the Cesarewitch on the Flat at Newmarket and the Tony Martin-trained Irish raider Leg Spinner could bid to emulate that feat.

The 2007 Greatwood Hurdle, which attracted a bumper 58 entries, could also be contested by the Paul Nicholls-trained duo of 2006 Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle victor Desert Quest and Twist Magic, a Grade One winner over fences at Aintree last season who was still in contention when falling two out in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at The Festival. Grade One John Smith's Aintree Hurdle runner-up Gaspara from the David Pipe yard and the classy Howard Johnson-trained Degas Art are two other exciting contenders.

The Open at Cheltenham commences on Friday, November 16 and the highlight of the fantastic three-day meeting is the £120,000 Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup over an extended two and a half miles on Saturday, November 17, for which the Paul Nicholls-trained Granit Jack is the current 4/1 market leader with sponsor Paddy Power.

Friday, November 16, is Countryside Day, with a traditional country fair atmosphere plus a dressage display, hound parades and over 80 trade stands offering something for everyone.

The racing on Friday features the £35,000 Anglo Irish Bank Private Banking Novices' Hurdle, run over an extended two miles, as well as the £35,000 Cross Country Steeple Chase, run over three miles, seven furlongs on the unique cross country course and won last year for the third time by remarkable veteran Spot Thedifference.