Fingal Bay ready for Neptune challenge – Horseracing Update
With a win-win career record, Fingal Bay is now geared up to test his credentials in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle of the next month’s Cheltenham Festival 2012, eying on sixth straight victory.
The novice gelding possesses hundred percent success ratio which has made him the hot favourite for Neptune contest, scheduled to be held on the second day of the high-profile festival, March 14.
In 2m5f Grade 1 contest, the talented runner will run against 117 ace competitors which include many big names of the game.
Before turning out to Cheltenham, Fingal Bay is supposed to show his skills at Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle but his trainer is reluctant to launch him in this event, because he wants to keep his momentum intact.
Commenting on his gelding’s future yesterday, the legendary trainer said, “It has to be the Neptune Novices' Hurdle. I am sure he will go three [miles] but we don't know that for certain. As far as the ground is concerned anything on the softer side of good
will be fine. I feel that softer ground plays to his strength more but I don't think it matters.”
He added, “There was not really a race after the Challow but we did not really want to run him again. He has had a short break and he will go straight to Cheltenham."
Like every other trainer, Cheltenham Festival holds great significance for Hobbs as well. He is keen to see Fingal Bay lifting the ace title for the first time in his short career.
If the young and enthusiastic gelding manages to win this race, he will be able to install himself as a hot favourite for almost all other contests of the calendar year.
Owned by Mrs R J Skan, the six-year-old runner has been victorious so far in his career which began on February 13, 2011. Starting from Molson Coors Intermediate Open National Hunt triumph, he has won all five out of his five starts till Bathwick Tyres Challow
Novices’ Hurdle.
With Neptune event on the cards, Fingal Bay is passing tough training which aims at making him a rock-solid competitor.
Tags: