News Redicean thriving ahead of Triumph Hurdle challenge

Redicean thriving ahead of Triumph Hurdle challenge

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Stamina is not expected to be an issue for Redicean in his attempt to maintain his unbeaten run in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The four-year-old, who has recently been bought back by former owners Cheveley Park Stud, will make his first start over hurdles away from Kempton when he bids to give trainer Alan King a third success in the Grade One contest on March 16.

King's charge is headed only by Apple's Shakira in the ante-post market, and the Barbury Castle handler said: "We've been very happy with him since the Adonis. I do not think stamina will be an issue around Cheltenham as he won over a mile and three-quarters on the Flat. He goes on soft ground, but he will be a better horse on better ground."

King continued: "It is the way he travels and quickens up which is smart and he does exactly the same at home. He has got a pretty lethal turn of foot when you ask him for it."

The trainer feels recent Newbury scorer Talkischeap could spring a surprise on his first start at the top table in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

He said: "He surprised me hugely at Newbury. I nearly didn't run him as I didn't think he would go on that ground. He is in the Coral Cup, but he will run in the Albert Bartlett.

"We know he gets the trip, which a lot won't, and the better the ground is the better chance he has. He could run well at a big price."

Useful Flat performer Scarlet Dragon could be given an outing in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle having finished second in a Grade Two contest at Kempton on his hurdling debut.

King said: "I think we are going for the Supreme and he will school tomorrow. It is not the ideal preparation having just one run over hurdles, but he is a high-class horse and today was the first piece of work he has done since Kempton.

"The Supreme should be run to suit him with the strong pace there and hopefully that run at Kempton will have taken a bit of the freshness out of him."

King hopes last year's Coral Cup third Who Dares Wins can see out three miles for the first time in the Pertemps Network Final before embarking on a busy Flat campaign.

He said: "I think he is going to go for the Pertemps as it has been our target all the way through. He is a thorough stayer on the Flat so he should get three miles.

"He is only just ready now as I gave him a good holiday but I was a little bit late getting him back. Luckily we've had a clean run and he didn't miss anything over the snow.

"He has got a big Flat campaign ahead of him again and we will try to win the Chester Cup with him first."

Valdez is likely to be eased in class for a crack at the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual after finishing third behind Queen Mother Champion Chase favourite Altior on his return to action in the Game Spirit at Newbury last month.

King said: "He was bang there and he just clipped heels at four out and was lucky not to come down. Once that happened Wayne (Hutchinson) was easy on him, but if he had ridden him he would have been right up their tails.

"He has come out of that well and he has been dropped 2lb. I would imagine he would go for the Grand Annual and at the moment I am leaning towards that."