English/Ire
“He’s in mighty form” – Bob Olinger ready for Stayers’ Hurdle defense
Henry De Bromhead has suggested that Bob Olinger is in ‘mighty form’ as he bids to defend his crown in this year’s Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
The ultra-consistent eleven-year-old came home a length and three quarters clear of the better-fancied Teahupoo when they met twelve months ago, and despite suffering a seven-length reverse to that rival on his sole outing so far this season in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown, trainer Henry De Bromhead believes he heads back to Cheltenham with every chance.
"He's in mighty form and seems really well," said De Bromhead on Sky Sports Racing.
"Obviously, he was really good in the race last year and I couldn't be happier with him at the moment.
"He's been a real warrior for us; he's in super form. We just said with his age we'd look after him a bit, so we gave him a nice run at Christmas where he ran a nice race and he's good to go now."
Reflecting on last year's triumph, he added: "It was a great day. He's unbeaten at Cheltenham, he was brilliant last year, and Rachael was brilliant on him."
Henry De Bromhead could also be well-represented in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, with both The Big Westerner and Koktail Divin on course to take on Willie Mullins' Final Demand.
The former finished runner-up in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival twelve months ago and will return to Prestbury Park having made a bright start to life over fences, finishing a pleasing second on her chasing bow at Fairyhouse before readily brushing aside Jade De Grugy in Grade 2 company at Limerick.
"She's in this and the Mares' but we're leaning towards the Brown Advisory," he said. "She would want a nice ease in the ground, so we'll just monitor that and see nearer the time.
"I've been really happy with her. She was a good winner at Limerick last time and we just said we'd put her away after to aim for the Festival.
"She's a class mare, she did it really well last time, she jumped brilliantly and it was a really nice performance."
Stablemate Koktail Divin also looks set to head to Cheltenham on the back of success, having supplemented excellent placed efforts behind Romeo Coolio and the high-touted Oscars Brother with a commanding victory at Leopardstown over Christmas.
De Bromhead said: "We're leaning towards the three-mile novice chase,"
"I think the nicer ground over that trip should suit him; he got a bit bogged down over three miles at Punchestown in November.
"If there was an ease in the ground, we'd probably be looking towards the two-and-a-half-mile novice but at the moment, towards the Grade 1.
"He had a nice run behind Romeo Coolio, then stepped forward behind Oscars Brother and then I thought he was really impressive at Leopardstown. On that nicer ground and over that trip we were able to ride him a bit more aggressively."
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