Marito© Photo Healy Racing
Colin McBratney is excited at Marito flying the flag for his County Down stable in the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham.
Marito is second-favourite at 7-1 for the amateur riders' Gold Cup after showing good form in hunter chases and point-to-points since moving to McBratney from Ireland's champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins.
"The horse is in great form. He's had a nice preparation," McBratney told At The Races.
"He was in Leopardstown last Monday and did a nice piece of work, so I'm very happy.
"We had a great introduction to point-to-pointing with him. He won two very easily and then won a hunter chase at Down Royal.
"We had a bit of a blip last time when Aupcharlie beat him. He pulled very hard in a small field and the ground was very sticky. He missed the last fence and got caught on the line.
"He had good form over hurdles and was only beaten a length and a quarter by Hurricane Fly. He was running a great race in the Jewson at Cheltenham (in 2013) when he fell (two out) with Aupcharlie a long way off behind him that day.
"He's certainly a leading contender for the Foxhunters.
"I think better ground will bring out the best in him because he's going on very heavy ground here all winter and with his he wants good ground.
"He travels very easy in his races. We've never gone this far with him but if he settles he'll stay OK.
"There's a great buzz about the place. It's not very often you have a horse of his calibre to go to Cheltenham with and have a realistic chance.
"He leaves home next Monday night and will arrive in Cheltenham on the Tuesday. We'll just keep him ticking over. He's a good traveller so there shouldn't be an issue there."
