Paco Jack In Fine Form Ahead Of Cheltenham Test

County Kilkenny trainer Joe Crowley is looking to test the water with his promising three-year-old Paco Jack in the £30,000 Grade Two Cleanevent Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (2pm) over two miles and half a furlong on Saturday, November 17.

Paco Jack heads to The Open with identical form figures to last year's winner Katchit, having easily won his first two starts over hurdles before finishing runner-up on his latest outing.

Damien Byrne, assistant trainer to Joe Crowley, revealed today: 'Paco Jack is going to Cheltenham in very good form and Ruby Walsh rides.'

The Soviet Star gelding won his first two outings over hurdles at Roscommon and Tralee in August by 17 lengths and 18 lengths respectively, prior to finishing a creditable neck second, conceding 18lb, to the smart Noel Meade-trained Queen Althea over two miles at Listowel on September 17.

Byrne continued: 'He was a bit unlucky at Listowel, Ruby lost his leg jumping the last and but for that he thought he would have won. He was giving a lot of weight to Queen Althea and she's a decent filly. He'd be happy to meet her again.

'He's a genuine three-year-old and he jumps super. He's a real natural leaper, which is a big thing in three-year-old hurdlers and he'll handle the ground at Cheltenham. He ran well on the Flat on good ground.

'At Roscommon and Tralee he was fairly impressive. He probably didn't beat a whole lot, but he couldn't have done any more than he did both times.

'It's a bit early to say how good he is. The three-year-old hurdles in Ireland early in the season aren't usually great. One of the reasons for going to Cheltenham is to see how good he is.

'I asked Ruby when he came in at Tralee how good the horse is and he said, ?I don't know, but he's a lot better than them'. He's a nice three-year-old and he could be good, but it's too early to say whether he's JCB Triumph Hurdle material - we'll find out after Saturday.'

Paco Jack faces stiff competition in the Cleanevent Juvenile Novices' Hurdle from the David Pipe-trained French import Sainte Kadette, who won his sole British start over the course and distance in the DLA Piper UK Juvenile Novices' Hurdle on October 19, when making all the running to score by seven lengths.

The field could also include the unbeaten Nicky Henderson-trained Tinagoodnight and impressive Chepstow winner Franchoek, representing last year's winning trainer Alan King, as well as the Ian Williams-trained Callisto Moon, who won the Listed Weatherbys Bank Wensleydale Juvnile Novices' Hurdle at Wetherby on November 2.

Anne Duffield could run the unbeaten Falcon's Fire, while the Irish challenge may be three-pronged, with the John Murphy-trained Dorset Square also engaged alongside Won In The Dark, trained by Sabrina Harty and successful in two of his three starts over hurdles.

The Cleanevent Juvenile Novices' Hurdle has a fine history of producing high-class winners and last year's victor Katchit subsequently notched a five-race winning streak through the rest of the campaign, that included the Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle at The Festival in March.

The 1998 hero Katarino also added the JCB Triumph Hurdle the following March, while 2003 victor Al Eile has twice landed the Grade One Aintree Hurdle and was fourth to Brave Inca in the 2006 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

The 2005 renewal of the Cleanevent Juvenile Novices' Hurdle went to Fair Along, who was second to Detroit City in the JCB Triumph Hurdle the following spring and filled the same berth behind My Way De Solzen in the 2007 Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at The Festival.

Newmarket permit holder George Haine is hoping for a big run from his stable star The Sliotar, who is entered in the £25,000 Browne's Gazette Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (1.45pm) and the £20,000 Gideon Kassler Novices' Hurdle (3.30pm) both over the same distance of two miles and five furlongs at Cheltenham on Sunday, November 18.

Haine, who took out a licence almost two years ago, enjoyed a deserved first success when saddling The Sliotar to victory at Market Rasen on September 30. That was the six-year-old's second outing for the yard since arriving from Mouse Morris' stable in the summer.

The Sliotar followed up under Jamie Moore at Uttoxeter on October 17, scoring by 10 lengths from Harry Wood, to leave his handler dreaming of a first Cheltenham triumph.

Haine revealed today: 'The Sliotar is in the Gideon Kassler Novices' Hurdle but I'm more likely to go for the Browne's Gazette Handicap Hurdle on the same day. I spoke to Jamie Moore this morning and I'm leaning towards the handicap. He definitely heads to Cheltenham though.

'First time out was a bit of learning curve as we were just getting to know him but next time he seemed to turn over a new leaf and I couldn't be happier with him.

'Mouse Morris was good enough to tell me to undercook him rather than overcook him and in a small yard everything revolves around him, which I think he appreciates. He was quite a timid horse when he arrived but now he'll have a go at you and at other horses. He has a lot more confidence now.

'The Sliotar was a good third to Aitmatov last year (at Galway) and then came fourth at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival in a race in which Farmer Brown was second, and that horse went on to win the Galway Hurdle this summer. He then went straight from maidens into good class handicap hurdles as a novice, so now he's got his confidence back, I'd be very hopeful of a big run.

'He's been bouncing off the ground and he's by Presenting out of a Strong Gale mare so they tend to like the top of the ground. He has gone on heavy ground too, so I don't think the going will be too much of a worry.'

The trainer has a rich racing heritage, being the son of Johnny Haine, who won the Champion Hurdle aboard Salmon Spray, and former trainer Di Haine, who saddled Smooth Escort to win at The Festival. He is also the grandson of Tom Jones, trainer of the legendary two-mile chaser Tingle Creek.

Haine added: 'I'm starting to walk the box myself here ahead of the weekend. Everything's definitely crossed around here.'

The Open at Cheltenham commences this Friday, and the highlight of the three-day meeting is the £120,000 Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup over an extended two and a half miles on Saturday, for which the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Don't Push It is the current 7/2 market leader with sponsor Paddy Power.

Going

The going at Cheltenham remains GOOD on the Chase & Hurdle courses and GOOD TO FIRM on the Cross Country course.