Supreme favourite set for Dundalk warm-up
BySteps To Freedom, the current ante-post favourite for the opening race of the forthcoming Cheltenham Festival that begins on March 13, looks set to have his prep race for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Dundalk’s all-weather track on February 17 where he will compete in a middle-distance Flat contest, writes Elliot Slater.
Jessica Harrington’s six-year-old is unbeaten this term in three hurdles races having made the switch from useful Flat handicapper to timber with tremendous success, the six-year-old having originally begun life as a bumper performer where he proved a serious talent in beating the smart Montbazon by two-lengths in the Grade 2 John Smith’s Champion Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race at least April’s Aintree Festival. Anyone following the Betfair betting on Cheltenham will have been impressed.
The son of Statue of Liberty won at Leopardstown last summer on his first outing on the level, taking a 14-furlong event in style before twice finishing runner-up in decent handicap company prior to running fourth in the listed Oyster Stakes at Galway in late-August. As a hurdler the versatile campaigner has already proved a serious talent, hacking up at Fairyhouse on his debut in September then putting his Flat speed to good use in quickening well to win a Grade 3 contest at Punchestown in October.
It was his latest outing though at Cheltenham in November that really made punters and bookmakers alike sit up and take notice of Steps To Freedom as he out-battled the tough and talented Prospect Wells, leading close home to win the Grade 2 Sharp Novices Hurdle, catapulting himself to the head of the ante-post market for the Supreme Novices Hurdle (10/1), a position he has maintained since his fine run at Prestbury Park.
Harrington reports her charge to have enjoyed his mid-term break but to be raring to go ahead of his Dundalk run which should put the finishing touches to his preparation for his bid to get the Irish off to a flyer in at the 2012 Cheltenham races.
Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide
Supreme favourite set for Dundalk warm-up
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