Nolan´s Cuan Na Grai Among 40 Entries For Cheltenham´s Greatwood Hurdle

Cuan Na Grai, trained by Paul Nolan, features among a cracking 40-strong entry for the #65,000 Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Grade Three), run over two miles and half a furlong at Cheltenham on Sunday, November 12, 2006, the final day of The Open.

The improving five-year-old novice, mightily impressive when landing a four-timer in the Guinness Galway Hurdle on August 3, would be bidding to become Nolan´s second winner of the valuable Cheltenham prize, following the victory of Accordion Etoile in 2004.

Nolan revealed today: 'We are hoping that Cuan Na Grai will go to Cheltenham in November for the Greatwood Hurdle.

'Although he won the Galway Hurdle on good to firm going, I´m hoping he doesn´t need it really quick. He should handle some cut in the ground, and we would take our chance on good to soft.

'Unlike Accordion Etoile, who has a good change of gear and likes to be ridden from off the pace, Cuan Na Grai is more of a galloper, and can go from the front.

'He seems in really good form and I hope we can keep him in the same shape until Cheltenham. If he progresses and stays healthy, I´m hoping that he will be good enough to take his chance in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices´ Hurdle at The Festival.'

The home defence is spearheaded by the Philip Hobbs-trained duo Detroit City and Noble Request, winners of the Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle and Scottish Champion Hurdle respectively, who are both likely to figure at the top end of the weights, which will be available on Wednesday, November 1.

Detroit City, who also landed the totesport Cesarewitch on the Flat at Newmarket earlier this month, races in the familiar yellow and black colours of owner Terry Warner, who saw his Rooster Booster (another grey), also trained by Philip Hobbs, collect the race in 2002 en route to victory in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham the following March.

Hobbs has also entered recent Cheltenham winner O´Toole and Bureaucrat, who showed decent form over hurdles in novice company last season.

Champion jump trainer Paul Nicholls has entered Grade One Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices´ Hurdle victor Noland and Desert Quest, who numbered the Vincent O´Brien County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March among his successes last season, while Howard Johnson has two entries in Arcalis and Mephisto.

Jonjo O´Neill, who hit the bullseye last year in the race with Lingo, has Hasty Prince, Ursis and East Tycoon in this time, and Acambo, Desert Air and Pablo Du Charmil are possibles for David Pipe, while Nicky Henderson has entered Caracciola, All Star, Tarlac and Jack The Giant.

Brighton-based trainer Gary Moore is responsible for 20 per cent of the entries, with Verasi, victorious in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Sandown last year, among his eight possibles for the race. The others are Nawamees, Ameeq, Heathcote, Grasp, Guru, Nation State and Vinmix De Bessy.

The six Irish-trained entries include the Noel Meade-trained pair Sweet Wake, a good fifth behind Noland in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices´ Hurdle at The Festival in March, and Jazz Messenger, who finished two places behind his stable companion in the same race, plus Charlie Swan´s Master Ofthe Chase, The Last Hurrah from Jesscia Harrington´s stable, and the Michael Phillips-trained Red Square Lady.

Other interesting entries include Seamus Mullins´ Kawagino, who ran an absolute blinder to come home seventh behind Brave Inca in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at 500/1, John Quinn´s useful ex-Flat racer Crow Wood, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Mahogany Blaze, and Trouble At Bay and Howle Hill, both trained by Alan King.

Barbury Castle Estate generously sponsors the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle which is named after the racehorse rehabilitation charity which is based on the outskirts of Marlborough, Wiltshire. Prize money this year has risen to #65,000 from #50,000.

The Open runs for three days, starting with Countryside Day on Friday, November 10 and continuing with the Paddy Power Gold Cup Day on Saturday, November 11.

The Greatwood Handicap Hurdle is one of three races at the meeting which are part of the BHB´s Order of Merit series. The others are the #110,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup and the #60,000 Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase which both take place on Saturday, November 11.