Longer trip has Hughes excited over the Colonel

DESSIE Hughes is relishing the prospect of seeing Lieutenant Colonel test his powers over a longer trip in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday week.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Mar 2014, 09:43 BST

The five-year-old has won twice from four career starts over two miles, filling the runner-up spot on his other two appearances behind two of Willie Mullins’s leading Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hopes in Vautour and Wicklow Brave.

Lieutenant Colonel will now tackle two miles and five furlongs and Hughes feels it will suit his charge down to the ground.

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“His preparation has been first class,” said Hughes whose son, Richard, is the champion Flat jockey. “Two miles looked too sharp for him in Punchestown, so we hope there will be improvement going up in trip.”

As the horse is owned by Gigginstown House Stud, he is likely to be ridden by Bryan Cooper, who rode three winners at last year’s Festival.

n Galway Jack and Andrew Thornton, the 1998 Gold Cup-winning jockey, were the beneficiaries at Southwell yesterday when Sue Smith’s Green Wizard came to grief at the final fence under Ryan Mania.

“I probably jumped a bit quicker than Green Wizard at the third-last and the second-last, but he kept coming back at me.

“It’s all about jumping,” said Thornton.

Meanwhile, Celtic Agent’s impressive victory in the Bumper confirmed the growing reputation of Middleham trainer Philip Kirby and young jockey Adam Nicol.