WARWICK RACECOURSE general manager Andre Klein is hoping Who Dares Wins can bring home the bacon at next week’s highly anticipated Cheltenham Festival.
Attracting 250,000 punters across four days, the Cheltenham Festival has rapidly become one of the most sporting events on the planet.
This year’s festival will see several graduates from Warwick Racecourse take to the track in an attempt to raise a household name profile in the racing world.
The likes of Yanworth, Bristol De Mai, Sceau Royal and Black Hercules have all tasted success at Warwick this year – and millions of eyes will be surveying the action at Prestbury Park next week, starting with the traditional Cheltenham Roar on Tuesday (March 15).
Speaking to The Observer, Andre said he expects Yanworth – favourite for the first race on day two of the festival, the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle – to shine.
He added: “Yanworth is an exceptional horse and I backed him at a large price ante-post, but for the wrong race.
“He’s been the standout Novice of the year for me and there’s only one horse that I think could get to him in the race and that’s Yorkhill.
“Bristol De Mai, another winner here at Warwick earlier this season, is another to keep an eye on.
“Bristol De Mai has improved as the season has gone on and his main rival would be Black Hercules – who won at the January meeting in impressive style.”
However Andre’s strongest fancy comes in the JCB Triumph Hurdle on Friday where the Alan King trained Who Dares Wins will be looking to put a disappointing fourth place finish at Cheltenham behind.
Available at 14/1, the five times winner will take on the likes of Ivanovich Gorbatov and Footpad in one of the festival’s most competitive races.
Andre said: “My loyalties have swapped in the Triumph and I think Who Dares will run a good race at the price – that’s my best selection for the Cheltenham Festival.”
Local trainer Dan Skelton will be hoping for plenty of success at the festival – and Andre is hopeful of the young trainer’s future.
He added: “It’d be great to have some local success to with Dan Skelton and he saddles several runners with chances – I imagine you can get quite short odds on him being champion trainer in a few years time.
“We’re racing through until May at Warwick and I’m very much looking forward to the May Racing Carnival where we have three fixtures in the month.
“Attendances have been good and in general I’m very pleased with my first year in charge.”
