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Chasers
Alfie Sherrin
11 b g Kayf Tara - Mandys Native (IRE) (Be My Native (USA))
Form: 11/310/413P/PF7513/374-4 Owner: J P McManus Breeder: Mrs J Egan
Jonjo O'Neill said: "At the moment, he won't get in the Baylis & Harding Affordable Luxury Handicap Chase (2.40pm, Champion Day, Tuesday, March 11), which has put a bit of a blocker on it. He has got a bit of wind problem and his joints can cause problems so he is not the easiest horse to keep sound. But he is in great form at the moment and I have not run him because of the heavy ground. Hopefully, we have done the right thing and kept him fresh. He has done a lot of work. We hope to run him at The Festival."
*Bumper and hurdle winner for Paul Nicholls.
*Lightly raced since winning the Baylis & Harding Affordable Luxury Handicap Chase at the 2012 Festival for current connections.
*Third behind Lion Na Bearnai in the following month's Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
*Fourth to Same Difference in last season's Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase at The Festival and filled the same spot on his seasonal return in the Betfair Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park in November.
*Entered in Baylis & Harding Affordable Luxury Handicap Chase and Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase.
Race record: Starts: 19; Wins: 5; 2nd: -; 3rd: 4; Win & Place Prize Money: £93,367
Johns Spirit (IRE)
7 b g Gold Well - Gilt Ridden (IRE) (Heron Island (IRE))
Form: 213122361/58126733-115 Owner: Christopher Johnson
Breeder: Arctic Tack Stud & Crossogue Stud
Jonjo O'Neill said: "He is in great form - he worked brilliantly the other morning. The reason he hasn't run is he keeps getting sore shins. He was fired and blistered after his last race so we have done a proper job on him. The owner has been away until now so it has suited us not to run him. He has got stronger this season and is much happier in himself. He goes well for Richie (McLernon) and they suit each other. I would blame the shins for his last run. He was sore after the Paddy Power and we struggled to get him back for the race in December. He ran well off a higher rating and it is a hard thing to do - win both the Paddy Power and that race. You need to come out of the Paddy Power flying and he came out sore. It is a hard race, the Paddy Power. He is working fantastically at the minute and I hope it stays that way for the next two weeks. He goes for the Byrne Group Plate (4pm, St Patrick's Thursday, March 13). He likes Cheltenham."
* Won a bumper easily at Newton Abbott in August, 2011.
*Progressive over hurdles during the 2011/2012 season, winning two of his seven starts over obstacles.
*Won one of eight outings over fences last term and ran some good races in defeat including when second to Katenko at Sandown in January.
*Finished seventh in the Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase at The Festival and then came third in competitive handicaps at Aintree and Ayr in April.
*Returned this season with an easy success in a two and a half mile handicap chase at The Showcase in October and followed that up with a three quarters of a length victory in the valuable Paddy Power Gold Cup at The Open in November.
*Failed in bid for a three-timer in Cheltenham handicaps when fifth in the Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup at The International on December 14.
*Entered in Byrne Group Plate.
Race record: Starts: 20; Wins: 6; 2nd: 4; 3rd: 4; Win & Place Prize Money: £166,480
Hurdlers
More Of That (IRE)
6 b g Beneficial - Guigone (FR) (Esprit Du Nord (USA))
Form: 1-111 Owner: J P McManus Breeder: Eleanor Hadden
Jonjo O'Neill said: "He is in good shape and it looks like he will stay the three miles of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle (3.20pm St Patrick's Thursday, March 13). He won at Haydock because he stayed. Do I have a doubt in my mind? Well, I think he will stay, though going to Cheltenham for The Festival is a hard thing to do, they don't hang around and the finish is up a hill. We don't really know. I am not totally sure he will go for the World Hurdle but he is ready and I would think Richie (McLernon) will ride him. Richie won on him first time out and knows the horse well. More Of That is a good traveller in his races but it makes me nervous that he has not raced over three miles before - it is going into the unknown. He is a fair horse but how strong is his form? I would imagine A P (McCoy) will ride At Fisher's Cross but he will come to ride work this week and next week and make his mind up. I hope he rides ours."
*Sibling of smart Jump performers Chamirey, Eastlake and Santenay.
*Belied a starting price of 20/1 to win in facile fashion on hurdling debut at Folkestone in December, 2012.
*Scored on seasonal return in a two and a half mile handicap at Wetherby on November 2, before following up in a competitive affair over the same trip at Haydock Park later the same month.
*Took a big step forward when beating Salubrious decisively by two and a quarter lengths in the Grade Two Osborne House Relkeel Hurdle over an extended two and a half miles at Cheltenham on December 14.
*Entered in Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
Race record: Starts: 4; Wins: 4; 2nd: -; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money: £54,775
Novice chasers
Holywell
7 b g Gold Well - Hillcrest (IRE) (Thatching)
Form: 31/2222124-32U11 Owner: Gay Smith Breeder: Patrick Doyle
Jonjo O'Neill said: "I am not too sure yet in which race he will run because the handicapper gave him 145 and he beat a horse at Doncaster rated 132. So I don't know where he got the handicap mark from. We will see. He might even go back to hurdles for the World Hurdle."
*£70,000 purchase at the Brightwells Cheltenham Sale in November, 2011, after winning an Irish point-to-point by 15 lengths.
*Captured a maiden hurdle at Chepstow in February, 2012.
*Finished second on four subsequent starts over hurdles, including in the valuable Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park in November, 2012, before a length and a half success in the Pertemps Network Final at The Festival last year.
*Also second to Solwhit in Grade One Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree's Grand National meeting.
*Won on two of his five starts in novices' chases this season, including when scoring over three miles at Doncaster on February 19.
*Entered in Baylis & Harding Affordable Luxury Handicap Chase, Terry Biddlecombe National Hunt Chase, RSA Chase, Ladbrokes World Hurdle and Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase.
Race record: Starts: 14; Wins: 4; 2nd: 6; 3rd: 2; Win & Place Prize Money: £114,094
Alfie Sherrin
11 b g Kayf Tara - Mandys Native (IRE) (Be My Native (USA))
Form: 11/310/413P/PF7513/374-4 Owner: J P McManus Breeder: Mrs J Egan
Jonjo O'Neill said: "At the moment, he won't get in the Baylis & Harding Affordable Luxury Handicap Chase (2.40pm, Champion Day, Tuesday, March 11), which has put a bit of a blocker on it. He has got a bit of wind problem and his joints can cause problems so he is not the easiest horse to keep sound. But he is in great form at the moment and I have not run him because of the heavy ground. Hopefully, we have done the right thing and kept him fresh. He has done a lot of work. We hope to run him at The Festival."
*Bumper and hurdle winner for Paul Nicholls.
*Lightly raced since winning the Baylis & Harding Affordable Luxury Handicap Chase at the 2012 Festival for current connections.
*Third behind Lion Na Bearnai in the following month's Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
*Fourth to Same Difference in last season's Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase at The Festival and filled the same spot on his seasonal return in the Betfair Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park in November.
*Entered in Baylis & Harding Affordable Luxury Handicap Chase and Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase.
Race record: Starts: 19; Wins: 5; 2nd: -; 3rd: 4; Win & Place Prize Money: £93,367
Johns Spirit (IRE)
7 b g Gold Well - Gilt Ridden (IRE) (Heron Island (IRE))
Form: 213122361/58126733-115 Owner: Christopher Johnson
Breeder: Arctic Tack Stud & Crossogue Stud
Jonjo O'Neill said: "He is in great form - he worked brilliantly the other morning. The reason he hasn't run is he keeps getting sore shins. He was fired and blistered after his last race so we have done a proper job on him. The owner has been away until now so it has suited us not to run him. He has got stronger this season and is much happier in himself. He goes well for Richie (McLernon) and they suit each other. I would blame the shins for his last run. He was sore after the Paddy Power and we struggled to get him back for the race in December. He ran well off a higher rating and it is a hard thing to do - win both the Paddy Power and that race. You need to come out of the Paddy Power flying and he came out sore. It is a hard race, the Paddy Power. He is working fantastically at the minute and I hope it stays that way for the next two weeks. He goes for the Byrne Group Plate (4pm, St Patrick's Thursday, March 13). He likes Cheltenham."
* Won a bumper easily at Newton Abbott in August, 2011.
*Progressive over hurdles during the 2011/2012 season, winning two of his seven starts over obstacles.
*Won one of eight outings over fences last term and ran some good races in defeat including when second to Katenko at Sandown in January.
*Finished seventh in the Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase at The Festival and then came third in competitive handicaps at Aintree and Ayr in April.
*Returned this season with an easy success in a two and a half mile handicap chase at The Showcase in October and followed that up with a three quarters of a length victory in the valuable Paddy Power Gold Cup at The Open in November.
*Failed in bid for a three-timer in Cheltenham handicaps when fifth in the Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup at The International on December 14.
*Entered in Byrne Group Plate.
Race record: Starts: 20; Wins: 6; 2nd: 4; 3rd: 4; Win & Place Prize Money: £166,480
Hurdlers
More Of That (IRE)
6 b g Beneficial - Guigone (FR) (Esprit Du Nord (USA))
Form: 1-111 Owner: J P McManus Breeder: Eleanor Hadden
Jonjo O'Neill said: "He is in good shape and it looks like he will stay the three miles of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle (3.20pm St Patrick's Thursday, March 13). He won at Haydock because he stayed. Do I have a doubt in my mind? Well, I think he will stay, though going to Cheltenham for The Festival is a hard thing to do, they don't hang around and the finish is up a hill. We don't really know. I am not totally sure he will go for the World Hurdle but he is ready and I would think Richie (McLernon) will ride him. Richie won on him first time out and knows the horse well. More Of That is a good traveller in his races but it makes me nervous that he has not raced over three miles before - it is going into the unknown. He is a fair horse but how strong is his form? I would imagine A P (McCoy) will ride At Fisher's Cross but he will come to ride work this week and next week and make his mind up. I hope he rides ours."
*Sibling of smart Jump performers Chamirey, Eastlake and Santenay.
*Belied a starting price of 20/1 to win in facile fashion on hurdling debut at Folkestone in December, 2012.
*Scored on seasonal return in a two and a half mile handicap at Wetherby on November 2, before following up in a competitive affair over the same trip at Haydock Park later the same month.
*Took a big step forward when beating Salubrious decisively by two and a quarter lengths in the Grade Two Osborne House Relkeel Hurdle over an extended two and a half miles at Cheltenham on December 14.
*Entered in Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
Race record: Starts: 4; Wins: 4; 2nd: -; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money: £54,775
Novice chasers
Holywell
7 b g Gold Well - Hillcrest (IRE) (Thatching)
Form: 31/2222124-32U11 Owner: Gay Smith Breeder: Patrick Doyle
Jonjo O'Neill said: "I am not too sure yet in which race he will run because the handicapper gave him 145 and he beat a horse at Doncaster rated 132. So I don't know where he got the handicap mark from. We will see. He might even go back to hurdles for the World Hurdle."
*£70,000 purchase at the Brightwells Cheltenham Sale in November, 2011, after winning an Irish point-to-point by 15 lengths.
*Captured a maiden hurdle at Chepstow in February, 2012.
*Finished second on four subsequent starts over hurdles, including in the valuable Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park in November, 2012, before a length and a half success in the Pertemps Network Final at The Festival last year.
*Also second to Solwhit in Grade One Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree's Grand National meeting.
*Won on two of his five starts in novices' chases this season, including when scoring over three miles at Doncaster on February 19.
*Entered in Baylis & Harding Affordable Luxury Handicap Chase, Terry Biddlecombe National Hunt Chase, RSA Chase, Ladbrokes World Hurdle and Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase.
Race record: Starts: 14; Wins: 4; 2nd: 6; 3rd: 2; Win & Place Prize Money: £114,094
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