Jonathan Burke will ride Queens Gamble on Saturday© Photo Healy Racing
Queens Gamble puts her unbeaten record over hurdles on the line when she returns in the Coral Racing Club Intermediate Handicap Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.
More commonly known as the Gerry Feilden, some exceptional horses have used the race as a springboard for greater things, with both Rock On Ruby and Epatante winning the prestigious handicap en route to Champion Hurdle glory.
Harry Derham’s talented mare now returns from a 336-day absence bidding to add her name to the decorated roll of honour, with her trainer hoping the six-year-old will continue on her upwards curve.
Derham said: “She’s a really talented horse and we’re looking forward to getting her back on track.
“We’ve had this race in mind for quite some time and I would love to see the ground just dry up a fraction for her. She’s a talented mare and I’m looking forward to seeing her in this type of race.
“It’s a really solid race for these type of second-season horses and it’s going to tell us if we’re going down the handicap route or going to step up.”
Nicky Henderson has won Gerry Feilden nine times down the years, including with the aforementioned Epatante in 2019.
The master of Seven Barrows reverts dual course-and-distance winner Jeriko Du Reponet to hurdles following a chasing debut that went anything but as planned at Sandown, with the JP McManus-owned five-year-old is joined by stablemate Aston Martini.
Gary Moore struck with Hansard 12 months ago and now alongside his son Josh, will attempt to double up with his soft-ground loving Triumph Hurdle third Salver, who heads to this contest instead of the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle.
“I took him out last Saturday which I probably shouldn’t have done, but I just need to run him on soft ground so this is the obvious option,” said Moore senior.
“I don’t like my horses carrying 12st and I wanted to go to the Fighting Fifth but the ground at Newcastle wasn’t suitable, so this is where we are at.
“He’s a good horse and I think a lot of him. He needs to go further really but you need to have a starting point somewhere.”
The father and son also have leading claims in the concluding Coral ‘Pipped-At-The-Post’ And Win Handicap Chase with Issar d’Airy.
The six-year-old brings an exceptional track-and-trip record to the race and has seen the form of his comeback second at Ascot franked by the winner Martator recently.
Moore continued: “He’s in good order, I’m very very happy and I hope he has every chance.
“He enjoys going to Newbury and he had a good first run of the season as well at Ascot.”
The anticipated favourite is Philip Hobbs and Johnson White’s Imperial Saint who will bid to follow in the footsteps of the yard’s Zanza who took home the prize in 2020.
Imperial Saint is two from two over the larger obstacles after two wins at Aintree and appears to have taken to the challenge of his new discipline magnificently this autumn.
“He’s been very professional over fences and I couldn’t be more chuffed with his two wins at Aintree,” said White.
“He’s come out of those two runs particularly well and Newbury, a left-handed flat track like Aintree, I think should suit him down to the ground.
“Whatever he does over two miles we hope he’ll improve over further, but while he’s effective and performing like he is over two miles there is no need to step him up just yet.
“He’s in great form and we go there with every hope.”
