Doitforthevillage set for Cheltenham run
Trainer Paul Henderson is set to saddle Doitforthevillage in Saturday’s Crest Nicholson Handicap Chase, one of seven races on a stellar card at Cheltenham racecourse for Festival Trials Day.
The nine-year-old has been in cracking form this season and gained a deserved victory at Prestbury Park in December when gamely landing the BetVictor Handicap Chase by two lengths.
A decent fourth on his comeback run at Newbury earlier this month over hurdles, Henderson is keen to target the £75,000 event at Cheltenham with concerns over the extended two and a half-mile trip allayed by jockey Paddy Brennan’s confidence that he will enjoy the step up in distance.
Doitforthevillage, one of the leading lights of Henderson’s Hampshire yard is 1-2 at Cheltenham and provided he comes through a gallop this week, Henderson is ready to let the gelding take his chance at the home of Jump racing.
The handler commented:
Doitforthevillage seems alright in himself. I am going to work him tomorrow to make sure he is okay before deciding whether he runs at Cheltenham on Saturday.
He had an injury prior to his latest run. He had an infection in his hind leg so that’s why I ran him over hurdles at Newbury just to get a run into him. He seemed to blow up at Newbury, but I’m pleased with him and I’ll just give him a gallop tomorrow to make sure that he is in top form.
He enjoys Cheltenham and conditions seem to be in his favour. Me and Paddy [Brennan] have discussed his ideal trip. Paddy thinks he will get a bit further so that’s why we are running over two and a half miles.
I think he’s an out and out two-miler, but Paddy is quite confident he will get the trip. Two and a half miles is a little bit of a concern to me as he does seem to travel sweeter over two miles, but Paddy is pretty bullish.
Doitforthevillage has run well at both Cheltenham and Aintree and I think the plan would be to target one of the handicaps at The Festival in March.
We’ll decide whether he goes for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase or the two and a half-mile handicap (Brown Advisory & Merribelle Stable Plate) at The Festival after his run this weekend.