Top French juvenile hurdler Azertyuiop has joined by Paul Nicholls after being bought by owner John Hales for an undisclosed six-figure sum.
The three-year-old is unbeaten in four starts in France having landed three bumpers and the Prix Pride Of Kildare at Auteuil on his only start over hurdles when trained by Guillame Macaire.
Hales confirmed today that Azertyuiop will move to Nicholls` Ditcheat base this week and his first aim in the New Year will be the Grade Two Wragge & Co Finesse Four Years Old Hurdle at Cheltenham on January 27th, a race won last season by Mister Banjo who also now carries his colours.
He said: 'He`s a lovely, lovely horse who will go to Paul Nicholls and the plan, as he`s been in training and very fit from France, will be the Cheltenham race at the end of January and after that we will keep our options very much open.
'But he will be entered for the Elite Racing Club Triumph Hurdle as that race closes just a few days before the Cheltenham event in January. We`ll see how he performs there before making any real targets for the horse.'
Hales also stated that Mister Banjo had come out of his Cheltenham victory on Saturday in good form and he is on target to return to Prestbury Park for the Grade One Cleeve Hurdle in late January.
'He`s fine,' declared Hales. 'His Festival aim will be the Stayers` Hurdle as it was always the plan that he would only have three or four runs over hurdles this season. And it was nice to see him make up for his unlucky fall in France at Cheltenham.
'Mick Fitzgerald, who has now won four races on the horse, was extremely enthusiastic about his long-term chances of making into a good chaser and his hurdling campaign this season was always going to be just part of his education.'
