General Miller to take command in Greatwood Hurdle
Last season’s top novice hurdlers form the top of the handicap for the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham and General Miller can be the one to come out on top.
Nicky Henderson’s team is fully up to speed now with a 25% strike-rate for the month and of his nine runners at this meeting in the first two days seven have made the first four.
There are plenty of horses who are open to improvement in this race headed by topweight Menorah. He has never finished outside the first two in seven starts and is suited by a strongly run race. His best run came when he won the Grade One Supreme Novices' Hurdle, over course and distance, when he beat Get Me Out Of Here by head.
However, Get Me Out Here looked unlucky that day – hampered by the winner at the penultimate flight. Disappointing first run of the season at Ascot last month, but a number of the stable's horses have been in need of a run, and no surprise to see a different horse here on 1lb better terms.
General Miller unseated at the first at Cheltenham but then beat Menorah by a neck in the Grade Two Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree and can confirm that form on 5lb better terms, while Sure Josie Sure could be dangerous from the foot of the weights.
If Forpadydeplasterer is to break his run of second-placed runs then the Sinbad Testimonial 2010/2011 Chase looks ideal. The 2009 Arkle Trophy winner here as novice has been runner-up in his last six starts but that is rock-solid form, including the Champion Chase back at the Festival, and he is very favoured by the weights in this race.
The Grade Two Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase looks a good field and Kilmurry, a course and distance winner last month, can extend his unbeaten sequence over fences to four.
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