Freedom bids to maintain record Jessica Harrington is hoping Steps To Freedom can maintain his fine record over jumps when he tackles the Opus Energy Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday. The five-year-old has created a good impression on winning both his starts over timber to date at Fairyhouse and Punchestown this autumn. "Everything's fine so far. He travelled over well and arrived there Thursday morning, so hopefully everything will be all right for tomorrow," said the County Kildare trainer. Henry de Bromhead is disappointed Absolutlyfantastic, the only four-year-old in the line-up, receives no weight allowance and even has to give weight to most of his rivals. However, Absolutlyfantastic is at least in good form with a win at Gowran and a second place at Cork in his two runs over hurdles so far. "He ran well at Cork and seems in good form," said the County Waterford trainer. "He's only a four-year-old so he gets no age allowance which is a little bit disappointing, but we said we'd give it a go and see how we get on." Colin Tizzard is looking forward to dropping Ohio Gold back in trip after he showed smart form over further last season, including behind First Lieutenant at the big meeting in March. "He ran a cracking race in the two-and-a-half-miler at the Festival. He aways travels so supremely well in his races but he's only won one," said Tizzard. "We've tried to make him into a two-and-a-half-miler, but I think this is a better race for him. It will be interesting to see now where we are with him. "He's a very nice young horse and I'm quite looking forward to running him over two miles. He might make a better chaser, possibly, but we're going to have another season hurdling with him. "We ran him in the big races last year because we didn't want to win a little novice so he could run in these sort of races this year. "When he got beat at Chepstow last week he could have run into a very good one (Knock A Hand) and he beat the rest comfortably enough. He won't be far away."
