‘Brave’ Burdett Road set stiff task on chasing debut

James Owen expects to have a clearer idea of what the rest of the season has in store for Burdett Road after he makes his debut over fences in the Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Winner of the Greatwood Hurdle at this meeting 12 months ago, the five-year-old also went on to fill the runner-up spot in the Champion Hurdle at the Festival in March, albeit in fortuitous circumstances.

Following a light campaign on the Flat, Burdett Road finished second to Rubaud on his return to the jumping game over hurdles at Kempton last month and as he appears short of the very best in that division, connections are keen to find out whether he is just as capable over the larger obstacles in a bid to open up other opportunities.

“He’s come out of Kempton really well and he’s been schooling great,” said Owen.

“It’s a tough ask first time over fences at Cheltenham, but it’s a track he’s done very well on – he’s won a Greatwood there and Triumph Hurdle Trial there and he loves the make-up of the track.

“We’ll find out where we are with him, whether we go back hurdling or stay over fences. He seems very brave at home and has the right mind for it, so hopefully he takes to it and gives us a lot more options going forward.”

The top two in the market are Henry de Bromhead’s Irish raider July Flower and the Dan Skelton-trained Be Aware.

Grade Three-winning hurdler July Flower bolted up on her chasing debut at Limerick last month, while Be Aware won comfortably in a handicap chase at Stratford and bids to provide the Skelton team with back-to-back victories in this Grade Two contest following the success of L’Eau Du Sud 12 months ago.

Of July Flower, De Bromhead said: “We were delighted with her in Limerick and look forward to seeing her over two miles.

“I was always heading towards two-and-a-half to three, but after seeing her in Limerick we said we’d drop her back and see how she gets on.

“Her owner Duncan Angove will be there. He doesn’t get to the races too often so it will be a good opportunity for him to see her as well.”