Moore hoping Oj is sweet at Cheltenham

Give It To Me Oj sets the standard as he turns his attentions back to jumping in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Gary And Josh Moore’s charge acquitted himself well in the juvenile hurdling division last season, running with credit in Grade One company at Aintree and capping off his season with back-to-back victories at Huntingdon and Sandown in the final week of the campaign.

The progressive performer has since won twice on the Flat at Epsom in the summer and returns to the winter game in rude health and in what his connections describe as the “obvious race”.

“He’s finished last season well over hurdles and has been a good horse to us since going jumping, he’s not done much wrong and hopefully he can keep going,” said Gary Moore.

“He’s done quite well on the Flat, I don’t think they were the greatest races he won but at least he won them.

“I hope he’s got more to come this season and he will need to off the mark he’s got. This was the obvious race for him at the end of last season and hopefully he can improve on that.”

Although having plenty of form on good ground in both disciplines, Give It To Me Oj has also proven adept with cut in the ground and Moore is hoping conditions at Prestbury Park prove in the four-year-old’s favour.

He added: “He’ll be fit after his wins on the Flat and to be honest I did worry about the ground a few weeks back wondering if this rain would ever come.

“It is of a bit of concern because Cheltenham does have its own little micro-climate and sometimes you don’t always get the ground you want, but hopefully it will be OK for him.

“He’ll be fine on good ground and has been winning on good ground on the Flat just lately, but I do think he might be better with a bit more give in the ground.”

Also heading to the race in top form is James Owen’s Hamlet’s Night who, although failing to sparkle on the level, has barely put a foot wrong since switching to obstacles, winning cosily at both Stratford and Warwick.

Owen said: “He’s still a maiden on the Flat but has took to hurdling really well and seems to really enjoy it.

“He’s thriving and he was in the novice on Friday as well, but we thought it would be better taking on the four-year-olds.

“He’s got a lot to do and Give It To Me Oj should be hard to beat on ratings, but we thought this was a nice opportunity and he should run a big race.”

Elsewhere on the card, Cheltenham Festival runner-up Anyway will bid to go one better on his return to the Cotswolds for the William Hill Extra Places With Bog ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase.

“He is in great form and the ground was just too tacky for him at Listowel last time (when eighth in the Kerry National), he just couldn’t quicken out of it but still ran well enough,” said trainer Ken Budds.

“It was a mighty run at the Festival back in March, especially when you look at what the winner Caldwell Potter went on to achieve at Aintree.

“He really seemed to like it around Cheltenham and hopefully there won’t be too much more rain as he likes good ground.”