Cheltenham Festival task expected to suit Champion Bumper contender Western Ryder
WARREN GREATREX is confident the frantic nature of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at next month's Cheltenham Festival will suit Western Ryder down to the ground.
The five-year-old, who is part owned by golfer Lee Westwood, finished second when trying to register back-to-back Listed race victories at Newbury on Saturday.
Despite that defeat, Greatrex believes Western Ryder can feature prominently in the Grade One on March 15.
He said: "I was extremely pleased with that run. To give 21lb to a mare (Daphne Du Clos) Nicky Henderson thinks a lot of and only get beaten just over three lengths, you have got to be chuffed with that. I think he will improve on the back of that run.
"Although he had already won a Listed race, the other day was just a test to make sure he was ready to take to Cheltenham and I think that he showed that he is ready.
"This horse will thrive on the fast-run race, the hurly burly of it and the big atmosphere - he goes there, I would have thought, with a leading chance."
Western Ryder looks set to be joined at Prestbury Park next month by stablemate Boite, with Greatrex earmarking the County Hurdle for the seven-year-old following his mid-division finish in the Betfair Hurdle.
He added: "I thought Boite ran really well on Saturday and he will probably go for the County Hurdle. Tom (Greatrex) did nothing wrong and I thought he gave him a great ride and the horse ran up to his mark.
"He is probably more of a two-and-a- half-mile horse, but the stiff finish over two at Cheltenham will help him."
