Tag Archive for: white rhino

Iroko set for Cheltenham as Aintree remains the aim

Iroko is being readied for an outing on Festival Trials day at Cheltenham following his early exit at Ascot last month.

The Cheltenham Festival-winning hurdler made a promising start to his campaign when narrowly denied by Trelawne in a graduation chase at Haydock in November and he was a hot favourite to go one better at Ascot’s pre-Christmas meeting, but fell at the first fence after being hampered.

Josh Guerriero, who trains the JP McManus-owned gelding in partnership with Oliver Greenall, reports Iroko to be none the worse for the experience and he is now set for a trip to the Cotswolds as connections plot a route to the Randox Grand National in the spring.

Guerriero said: “He’s come out of it fine and it was just annoying as when you get knocked over at the first there’s not a lot you can do.

“We’ll go to Cheltenham now on Trials day for a handicap and we’re definitely still aiming at the National with him. We’ll work our way somehow.”

Five days after Iroko’s fall, his stablemate White Rhino also came to grief in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton, unseating Henry Brooke at the third fence having impressed in winning his first two starts over fences at Ayr and Haydock.

The nine-year-old is being targeted at the Cheltenham Festival, but which race he will run in come March is likely to become clearer after his next run.

“That was annoying as well and again it was just one of those things,” Guerriero added.

“I’m not sure where we’ll go now really, we might have go at the Reynoldstown at Ascot and if all goes well there we’ll still head for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.

“If he went and won the Reynoldstown we might have to reroute, but I wouldn’t mind that!”



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White Rhino charges into Cheltenham contention

Connections of White Rhino have Cheltenham Festival aspirations after he maintained his unbeaten record over fences with an impressive display at Haydock.

Trained in partnership by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, the eight-year-old won five times over hurdles, including a victory at Cheltenham 12 months ago.

Having won on his introduction to the larger obstacles at Ayr a month ago, Henry Brooke’s mount was a 7-2 chance to follow up in the TrustATrader Apply Today Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase and drew four and a quarter lengths clear of the runner-up President Scottie.

There was a sad postscript to the race, with 9-4 favourite Beneficially Yours fatally injured in a fall three fences from home.

Of the winner, Guerriero said: “He just keeps improving and he was always going to be a better chaser, just because of the size of him.

“He’s done that really well. To be honest I thought it looked a very competitive race and I was worried we were just creeping up (in the weights) all the time and we can’t keep winning, but he’s definitely a stronger horse this season.”

The National Hunt Chase and the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase were raised as possible targets for the Festival in March and White Rhino could have an early sighter of the Cheltenham fences next month.

“We might go to Cheltenham in January for one of the trials or I think there’s a three-mile handicap chase there for him,” Guerriero added.

The Alan King-trained Ski Lodge carried the Noel Fehily Racing colours to success in the Watch On Racing TV Maiden Hurdle.

Ski Lodge and Tom Bellamy after winning at Haydock
Ski Lodge and Tom Bellamy after winning at Haydock (Ashley Iveson/PA)

The Chepstow bumper winner disappointed on his hurdling bow at Ffos Las last month but showed his true colours on Merseyside, knuckling down after the final flight to see off the promising point-to-point recruit Jo Coko by a length and a quarter.

“There were a couple of nice horses in that race and we like our horse. He won his bumper at Chepstow nicely and we were hoping for that sort of performance today,” said Fehily.

“I think he ran a bit back to front the last day – he was too keen early and did too much and just ran a bit green. He was much better today, he settled well and Tom (Bellamy) gave him a good ride.

“He’s a good, tough horse. Whatever he does over hurdles, he’s a chaser for next year.”

Cloudy Glen in the Haydock winner's enclosure
Cloudy Glen in the Haydock winner’s enclosure (Ashley Iveson/PA)

Cloudy Glen (11-8 favourite) rolled back the years with a popular success in the trustatrader.com Veterans’ Handicap Chase.

The 11-year-old had not managed to get his head in front since his career-defining win in what is now the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in 2021, but proved the fire still burns bright with a seven-and-a-half-length verdict under Charlie Deustch.

“I’m really pleased for him because he gave me a very special day and he’s enjoyed himself round there today, which is the main thing,” said Deutsch.

“These races give horses like him an opportunity. You hear of so many horses who win a big handicap and you never hear of them again. He really enjoyed himself, jumped well and it’s nice to have him back.”



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Gaboriot team eager to step up for Becher Chase

Grand Sefton third Gaboriot is poised to lock horns with King Turgeon again next month as Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero have their sights set on turning the tables on David Pipe’s Aintree scorer in the Boylesports Becher Handicap Chase.

A useful operator for Francois Nicolle in France, he has spent the majority of his time with Greenall and Guerriero competing in hunter chases, winning over four miles at Cheltenham in May.

He added to his tally at Cartmel later that month but dropped right back in distance to two miles and five furlongs to tackle the famous Grand National course in the Grand Sefton on his reappearance.

He produced a fine round of jumping over that unsuitable distance and was able to keep on for third, a performance that has connections relishing a return to Merseyside for the Becher, which will be contested over three and a quarter miles.

Oliver Greenall trains Gaboriot alongside Josh Guerriero
Oliver Greenall trains Gaboriot alongside Josh Guerriero (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He goes back to Aintree for the Becher,” said Guerriero of the eight-year-old, who is the 10-1 second favourite with the sponsors and as short as 8-1 elsewhere.

“He wants softer ground and a longer trip, so he did well to run as good as he did on the ground in the Sefton.

“I think if it’s softer he will find it easier and he was a bit flat out the whole way, but still managed to run well.

“He was a classy horse in France and it has just taken a bit of time to get his confidence back. But he seems to be loving life again and will go there with a chance hopefully.”

White Rhino was a Cheltenham winner over hurdles
White Rhino was a Cheltenham winner over hurdles (Simon Marper/PA)

The upwardly-mobile Greenall and Guerriero team, who tasted Cheltenham Festival success with Grand National hope Iroko in 2023, also have high hopes for White Rhino after his winning chasing debut at Ayr recently.

Having shown a liking for Prestbury Park over hurdles, the training duo intend to move up in distance with White Rhino as the season progresses with the aim of contesting in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival.

Guerriero added: “He should just keep improving as we step him up in trip. He wants three miles really and did well to win over that trip.

“He will go to Haydock on December 4 for a novice handicap chase there. He likes Cheltenham so we will hopefully get back there in the spring, maybe for the National Hunt Chase now it’s a handicap.”



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Iroko out to prove Festival comeback king

Iroko has connections excited as he prepares to complete his comeback from injury in the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The six-year-old gave upwardly mobile training duo Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero a landmark first Festival success when claiming the Martin Pipe 12 months ago.

It seemed unlikely he would feature at this year’s showcase meeting, with an injury suffered shortly after his imperious chasing debut expected to keep him out of action for the rest of the campaign.

However, he returned to full training quicker than anticipated and will head to Prestbury Park’s New course attempting to repeat last year’s heroics in an open Turners Novices’ Chase that kicks off day three of the Festival.

“He’s absolutely fine and in good health and is all set to run – we’re looking forward to running him on the Thursday in the Turners,” said Greenall.

“He seemed to really handle the New course (in the Martin Pipe), but I think he’s pretty versatile and he would handle the Old course just as well.”

The injury sustained by Iroko earlier in the season has left his training team in a race against time to prepare their stable star for the Cheltenham Festival.

Despite failing to beat the clock in order to provide the gelding with a prep run, Iroko successfully came through an away day at nearby Haydock recently, with Greenall believing the experience he has garnered running in handicaps will stand him in good stead for his Turners assignment.

Iroko en route to winning the Martin Pipe at last year's Cheltenham Festival
Iroko en route to winning the Martin Pipe at last year’s Cheltenham Festival (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)

“It (possible races) just came too soon really, fitness wise, but he has been away and schooled at Haydock and we’ve done everything we can,” continued Greenall.

“I think the fact he has run in some good juvenile races and some good handicaps, he is streetwise in that sense and it will just be jumping the fences at speed he will lack experience in, I suppose.”

It could be a big afternoon for the Greenall and Guerrero partnership, as fast on the heels of Iroko, in the very next race they will saddle White Rhino in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.

White Rhino winning at Cheltenham in December
White Rhino winning at Cheltenham in December (Simon Marper/PA)

A general 10-1 shot to land a knockout blow with the bookmakers, the eight-year-old brings solid course form to the table, having finished second at the November meeting before going one better over the Pertemps track and trip the following month.

He was last seen qualifying for this event by finishing third at Huntingdon and is predicted to sharpen up for that outing back in the Cotswolds.

“He will go in the Pertemps on the same day, if he gets in,” continued Greenall.

“He seems to have come on nicely since his Huntingdon run, has a nice weight and we look forward to running him.”



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