Hold Fast to warm up for Cheltenham Festival in Super Saturday
Fresh from his grand victory in the 32red Handicap Chase of January 7, Hold Fast is going to test his credentials in the coming weekend’s Betfair Super Saturday Chase for the upcoming high-voltage clashes of the Cheltenham Festival.
On February 11, the novice horse will face tough opponents in the 2 miles and 1 furlong long Grade 2 race. It will be an acid test of his preparation for the Queen Mother Champion Chase which is to be held at Cheltenham in March.
The gelding’s trainer Paul Nicholls, claims that Saturday’s rip-roaring competition will be an examination of his form which he gained on January 7, and if he manages to win, his confidence is likely to perk up further. However, he is not yet sure
what his trainee will do.
While speaking to the media yesterday, the champion trainer said, “It looks like being a hot race but he hosed up at Sandown and we want to run him on Saturday to see where we are. He's entered for the Champion Chase and for the Grand Annual and I
suspect we'll end up going the handicap route. We'll see what happens."
As Cheltenham Festival is always a significant event for every horse whose earns an entry, Paul Nicholls wants Hold Fast to get tuned up fully, so that he performs well and bring home the glorious title.
Owned by Andrea & Graham Wylie, the 8-year-old horse has won two Hurdle and Chase races each so far out of his total 9 starts that include 1 NHF, 3 Hurdle and 5 Chase races.
The talented runner commenced his career on September, 2009, and over the years shot up his earnings to £22,127 so far.
Hold Fast possesses an excellent track record over hurdles. His maximum down finish so far has been 6. These stats show that the horse has immense firepower at his helm to offer in Saturday’s contest which will work as a touchstone for the bookmakers
to bet on the Nicholls’s trainee during the Cheltenham Festival.
As per the expert opinion, Hold Fast seems to be in favourable position to win on the weekend provided he sustains his momentum and performs to his best.
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