Trainer Paul Flynn is aiming for another big handicap hurdle prize with his progressive hurdler Moon Dice, who has been allotted 10st 6lb for the £100,000 Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (2.20pm), which takes centre stage at Cheltenham on Sunday, November 13.
The six-year-old gave the handler from County Longford, Ireland, the biggest success of his training career to date when storming to a four and a half-length victory in the lucrative Galway Hurdle at the Galway Festival on July 28.
He is currently rated a 12/1 chance for the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle with Paddy Power.
Flynn revealed: “Moon Dice is in great form and he will definitely run in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle. The race was the main target that we had in mind after he won at Galway and we gave him a good break to freshen him up.
“I feel that he has improved since Galway - he is only six and I think that he has got stronger. It will be a better race than Galway but I think that he idled a little bit there and the Cheltenham hill should suit him.
“I can see him turning into a potential Arkle horse in the future. We will keep him over hurdles this year and I think that he will be another 10lb or 15lb better over fences. I have ridden What’s Up Boys to win a Hennessy Gold Cup and Farmer Jack to win the Old Roan Chase, but Moon Dice is probably the best horse that I have sat on, let alone trained.
“He will prove me right or wrong next weekend but I think that he will run a cracking race.”
The weights for the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle are headed by the Donald McCain-trained Overturn (16/1 & 11st 12lb), who carried top-weight to victory on his latest start in the Scottish Summer Champion Hurdle at Perth on August 20.
Others contenders include the Nicky Henderson-trained Grandouet (9/1 joint-favourite & 10st 12lb), who was third in last season’s Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle before beating the Alan King-trained Kumbeshwar (10/1 & 10st 4lb) in Punchestown’s Grade One 4YO Champion Hurdle in May.
Grandouet is joined at the top of Paddy Power’s market by the Paul Nicholls-trained Brampour (9/1 joint-favourite & 10st 11lb), who captured a Listed handicap hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.
A Media Luz (12/1 & 9st 9lb) and Gibb River (16/1 & 10st 1lb) also feature among a strong Henderson-trained trio, while Gary Moore could be represented by Sire de Grugy (12/1 & 10st 5lb).
Greatwood Handicap Hurdle - Paddy Power bet:
9 Brampour, Grandouet, 10 Domtaline, 12 Sire de Grugy, A Media Luz, Moon Dice, 14 Khyber Kim, Kumbeshwar, 16 Third Intention, Overturn, Kalann, Sanctuaire, Jack Cool, Gibb River, Oldrik, Via Galilei, 20 Celestial Halo, Marsh Warbler, Alarazi, Olofi, Elsafeer, Pateese, Topolski, Ultimate, Inspector Clouseau, 25 Alasi, Bygones of Brid, The Betchworth Kid, Act of Kalanisi, Tawaagg, Palawi, Harry Tricker, Abergavenny, Priors Gold, Alazan, 33 Nearby, Son of Flicka, Drill Sergeant, Viva Colonia, Deutschland, Tarkari, 40 First Fandango, Andhaar, Eightybarackstreet, Wee Giant
each-way 1/4 odds, 4 places
